Shocking moment drugs gang are chased onto popular UK beach in front of stunned sunbathers after 28-mile pursuit at sea
The smugglers had been chased by police for 28-miles before they landed in front of stunned sunbathers.
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In footage released by the National Crime Agency, two smugglers can be seen racing across the sea closely followed by a second boat.
After cruising along the waves for 28 miles, the smugglers finally ground to a halt when they swept onto the beach.
Next, they leapt from their boat and began bolting across the sand before the second boat landed on the beach.
In a second video, horrified onlookers can be heard shouting as the two men flee from a group of police.
That led the officers to spread out, creating a fanlike formation to ensure that the drug gang had no means of escape.
A third video shows the steely attitude that the police took when catching the crooks, as they slid off the boat and racing after the smugglers on the beach.
As the two criminals abandoned their rigid-hulled inflatable boat (RHIB), they also left behind a huge quantity of cocaine.
Eventually, the police managed to catch the men after a short chase on the shores of Gwynver Beach, Penzance.
Scott Johnston, 38, from Havant and Edwin Yahir Tabora Baca, 33, from Barcelona were eventually hauled before a court and slapped with huge prison sentences.
Johnston will spend 24 years behind bars, while his accomplice will be jailed for 17 years and 7 months.
Shocking moment sunbathers erupt into huge brawl on Brit beach for the SECOND time in a week as punches thrown on sand
Meanwhile, five other men were arrested in connection with the crime which took place on September 13, 2024.
Michael May, 47, and Terry Willis, 44, organised the collection of the cocaine which had a total worth of £18.4 million.
Six bales of cocaine were recovered from the RHIB, containing 230kg of the illegal drug.
The two Essex residents received jail sentences of 19 years and 21 years and 8 months, respectively.
Peter Williams, 43, received a sentence of 16 years and nine months in prison and Bobbie Pearce, 29, was handed a 15 year and four month stint in jail.
Both men were directly involved in the crime group which had planned the secret scheme.
Alex Fowlie, 35, will be sentenced on September 5 after it was found that he had supplied the boat.
NCA Senior Investigating Officer, Barry Vinall, said: 'These are substantial sentences for six men who didn't care about the misery cocaine causes, they just wanted to make a profit.
'Cocaine is one of the most harmful illegal drugs in the UK, linked to thousands of deaths and fuelling violent crime that wrecks communities and lives.
'Working together, Border Force stopped cocaine worth millions from making it onto UK streets and the National Crime Agency ensured that the group behind its importation faced justice.'
Duncan Capps, Senior Director of Border Force Maritime added: "It is the job of Border Force to protecting our border and keeping communities safe.
'Our officers were fantastic and displayed incredible skill during the 28-mile pursuit, despite the suspects' attempts to get rid of evidence.
"Border Force will continue to work alongside the NCA to prevent dangerous drugs reaching our streets and will ensure criminals caught smuggling face the full force of the law."
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