A drugs gang carrying 230kg of cocaine was dramatically chased onto a popular Cornish beach in front of shocked tourists. The rigid-hulled inflatable boat ran aground at Gwynver Beach near Penzance on September 13, 2024, after a 28-mile pursuit by Border Force officers.
The three men aboard the vessel attempted to flee on foot after becoming stranded but were quickly apprehended. The cocaine seizure was worth £18.4 million and represented a significant blow to international drug trafficking operations.
Scott Johnston (38), Edwin Yahir Tabora Baca (33), and Peter Williams (43) were among those arrested on the beach. The dramatic scene unfolded in front of tourists visiting the popular South West Coast Path location near Land's End.
Major criminal network dismantled
The beach arrests formed part of a larger operation targeting a seven-member criminal gang. Cornwall Live reports that the network was led by Michael May (47) and Terry Willis (44), who coordinated the smuggling operation.
Johnston received a 24-year sentence, while Tabora Baca was jailed for 17 years and seven months. Williams, described by the Daily Star as an experienced fisherman who reportedly met King Charles on multiple occasions, received 16 years and nine months.
The gang leaders received substantial sentences reflecting their central roles. May was sentenced to 19 years, while Willis received 21 years and eight months for orchestrating the trafficking operation.
International operation disrupted
Border Force and National Crime Agency officers worked together to track the vessel from international waters. The gang had connections to Barcelona, highlighting the international scope of the smuggling network.
Cornwall Live reports that Alex Fowlie (35), who supplied the boat used in the operation, was scheduled for sentencing on September 5, 2024. The comprehensive investigation dismantled the entire criminal enterprise from suppliers to transport coordinators.
NCA Senior Investigating Officer Barry Vinall emphasised the operation's significance in disrupting cocaine supply chains that fuel violence and exploitation across communities.
Sources used: "Independent", "Cornwall Live", "Daily Star" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
