TWO men have been jailed after setting off in a motor cruiser from Southampton Water to pick up two tonnes of cocaine.

Their jailing today at Southampton Crown Court comes after a South East Regional Organised Crime Unit investigation.

Border Force had boarded the Azimut 50 Motor Cruiser - named Bubble E - off the coast of Cornwall on October 14 last year.

Inside were three men - Edward Duggin, 33, of Norris Way, Buntingford, Hertfordshire; Thomas Snell, 31, of no fixed abode; and Justine Romaraog, 22, of Talfourd Way, Redhill, Surrey.

The trio had been on a practice run to meet South American ships - where they planned to collect jettisoned packages. Traces of cocaine were found on voids inside the vessel, indicating the drug had been previously stored inside.

Daily Echo: The Bubble E motor cruiser used by Eddie Duggin and Justine Romaraog, who have been jailed at Southampton Crown Court.The Bubble E motor cruiser used by Eddie Duggin and Justine Romaraog, who have been jailed at Southampton Crown Court.

Investigations later found Bubble E had left Southampton Water on September 9 last year - with Romaraog and Duggin on board.

They had planned to meet a yacht in the English Channel and take on board two tonnes of cocaine.

The drugs had been smuggled from South America by other members of the organised crime group.

But the yacht was intercepted by Border Force and the National Crime Agency - although Bubble E and its crew returned to Southampton undetected.

All three men admitted importing the class A drug at Southampton Crown Court in March this year.

Duggin was today jailed for 15 years and Romaraog for 11 years.

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Investigating officer Detective Sergeant Dan Hope, of SEROCU, said: “Duggin and Romaraog have been sentenced for their parts in an agreement to import large quantities of cocaine – a drug which causes widespread harm across the country and goes hand-in-hand with a myriad of other offences – exploitation, crime to fund addiction and harm to the most vulnerable in society.

“Officers from the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit led a complex investigation, working closely with law enforcement partners including UK Border Force and the National Crime Agency to ensure evidence was shared and these three men faced justice.

“We’ll continue to work together to ensure we tackle the threat serious and organised crime has upon the communities of the South East.”

Snell is due to be sentenced on June 9.

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