Icelandic coastguard chasing drug running yacht

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Thrall

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Three were arrested last night in Djúpivógur on the south east coast of Iceland after taking ashore tens of kilos of drugs in a rubber dinghy from a yacht sheltering behind Papey, an island a few kilometres offshore.
The Icelandic coastguard plus some Danish fighters on patrol over Greenland seem to have found the yacht which is now hightailing it east, out of Icelandic territorial waters.
Question is, will they catch the drug runners in time?
They have armed special branch on board the pursuing gunboat.

Things maritime have not be so exciting since the cod war!

Thrall
 
Under UNCLOS, there is a provision for "hot pursuit" going outside of territorial waters.

As long as the target vessel is under continuous observation from the time of exiting territorial waters until time of boarding, then they can legally be arrested outside territorial waters. So an aircraft can maintain surveillance on the target until the gunboat arrives to board them.
 
Hello, Thrall,

I regret the huge waste of scarce public money implied in this.

One or perhaps two effective 'strafing runs' with 30mm cannon from a couple of 'aviation assets' will cost the burdened taxpayer of Greenland far less than an arrest-after-maritime-chase and a lengthy trial, then imprisonment.

After all, yours is the oldest and perhaps the most robust democracy on the planet, and - I believe - those dissatisfied can always bring their complaint to the Althing Rock, to settle the matter in single combat with axes and swords. Now that's an ideas we could usefully import here.

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
Hello, Thrall,

I regret the huge waste of scarce public money implied in this.

One or perhaps two effective 'strafing runs' with 30mm cannon from a couple of 'aviation assets' will cost the burdened taxpayer of Greenland far less than an arrest-after-maritime-chase and a lengthy trial, then imprisonment.

After all, yours is the oldest and perhaps the most robust democracy on the planet, and - I believe - those dissatisfied can always bring their complaint to the Althing Rock, to settle the matter in single combat with axes and swords. Now that's an ideas we could usefully import here.

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Good old Bilbo, always there with the Jomsviking solutions. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
As you say the survivors can always ask to settle it by combat.
thats assuming "Air" actually hits the target!
Better to close, rake the waterline with 20mm cannon and the bridge with ball .303, drop a depth charge under the bow, turn, scuttling charge on 3 seconds into the water. Scoop up the remains for caution, arrest & trial( NB keep bucket in freezer til in home port- label clearly or enjoy long pork casserole!!!!).
The old ways are best

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
Under UNCLOS, there is a provision for "hot pursuit" going outside of territorial waters.

As long as the target vessel is under continuous observation from the time of exiting territorial waters until time of boarding, then they can legally be arrested outside territorial waters. So an aircraft can maintain surveillance on the target until the gunboat arrives to board them.

[/ QUOTE ]

Now, three hours after first post, the yacht has crossed the midline between Iceland and The Faroes, and is thus out of our territorial waters. The gunboat is however continuing the chase and anticipates, according to a spokesman, escorting the yacht to a harbour in SE Iceland.

The number of crew and country of registry are not know.

Perhaps they didn´t show a flag when the Danes flew over?.... /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Thrall
 
Well, I'll agree that the Danes have not always figured prominently in the NATO Air competitions,such as 'Red Flag', but with several hundred miles of 'open waters' ( Clear Range Procedures ) in which to practice, surely even they would manage some decent gun camera film. It would, after all, perk up the NATO Somali Patrol.... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
At 22.35 GMT, the Icelandic Coastguard Vessel "Týr" apprehended the yacht, special branch boarded and arrested three crew. Both vessels are now returning to Iceland.

So no powder wasted on warning shots - or otherwise.

Bit early in the year though for pleasure trips in the North Atlantic.... /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Thrall
 
Hi Bilbobaggins,

[ QUOTE ]
After all, yours is the oldest and perhaps the most robust democracy on the planet, and - I believe - those dissatisfied can always bring their complaint to the Althing Rock, to settle the matter in single combat with axes and swords. Now that's an ideas we could usefully import here.

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Well, actually, we´ve sort of given up on the axes and swords, and decided to hold a general election next week to clear the decks so to speak.

It may be difficult to believe, but it would seem that the two parties that privatised the banks here a few years ago and let them run amok to pretty well everyone´s detriment, both home and abroad, would seem to be having their comeuppance according to the opinion polls.

Gordon and Alistair didn´t help....

Thrall /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif
 
Quite right. We could sell off the gunboat to recover some of the Icelandic debt - but I suppose something as proactive as that wouldnt appeal to the civil service.
 
<<Gordon and Alistair didn´t help....>>

Don't think anybody holds out much hope for that. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
News conference at noon revealed that there were three crew on board, but they did not respond or heave to despite VHF contact. Rubber dinghy then approached with four heavies who managed to board and arrest them.
Two are Icelandic, 30+ and 50+, and one Dutchman 50+ who has been to Iceland previously. Not disclosed whether armed.

The yacht is 43ft. white plastic and Belgian. I have a couple of pics. which I can email any forumite who sends me his email, and can post for me.

The "stuff" recovered on land filled the complete rear deck of a Toyota Hilux pickup, estimated to be over 109kilos, a mix of amfetamin, marijuana, cannabis and extasy.

Seems people are running short here!

Thrall
 
Looks like the yacht is an Océanis 43 named Sirtaki perhaps from an establishment "Channel Sailing BVBA" which deals in skippered and bareboat charters from Zeebrugge and Breskens.

I don´t expect they´ll see their craft for a wee while now....

She is motoring northish in a south wind, probably 10-15ms., so probably a bit rolly to say the least; pity no one on board seems to be able to use the sails.

Thrall

Ps. Thanks Dyflin for the photos.
 
The last case of drug running by yacht in 2007 involved only a third of the quantity now found, but sentences were from over nine years down to a few months.
A poor Icelander living in The Faroes, otherwise uninvolved, who stuck a kilo from that yacht in the boot of his car for an old school "friend" and whose defence was not up to scratch got over seven years for the favour.
The prosecutor was not friendly I think, and wanted to discourage other sailing favours.
It was generally considered that he would have received a lighter sentence if he had been tried in Denmark or Iceland. He cannot ever return to The Faroes where his fiancée lives.

Best to stick to the bottle methinks.

Thrall
 
I'm not sticking up for them, as I am totally against drugs other then a bit of grog (without the water) don't u think they would of been better scuttling the boat and pleading ignorant?

Perhaps they thought they wouldn't chase them?

They deserve all they get.
 
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