07:26 EDT, 27 June 2021
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Three British men have been arrested in the mid-Atlantic by Spanish police and Customs agents after a ton of cocaine worth more than £80million was discovered on a yacht sailing from the Caribbean to Europe.
Spanish officials say the detentions mean they have now smashed an international drugs smuggling ring allegedly led by a former Royal Navy officer.
Robert Mark Benson, 64, was one of 10 people arrested last month during raids in the provinces of Malaga and Cadiz and Spain s North African enclave of Ceuta after twin seizures of boats carrying 1.5 tons of hashish.
Spanish police had previously described Benson as someone with strong links with other criminal organisations in countries like the UK and Ukraine , although like their British counterparts they have not officially named him.
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Robert Mark Benson, 64, has been arrested in Spain on suspicion of using his military training to run a drug smuggling operation in the Strait of Gibraltar
A British Navy submariner has been arrested in Spain on suspicion of using his military training to run a drug smuggling operation in the Strait of Gibraltar.
Robert Mark Benson, 64, was detained with ten alleged accomplices last week following a lengthy investigation by Spanish police.
Police also seized wo vessels with 1.5 tonnes of hashish aboard in the raid.
Officers claim Benson has links to criminal organisations in the UK and Ukraine, where he allegedly sent the drugs.
Spanish police raid a yacht in Cadiz linked to the trafficking ring
Credit: ASA/NPZ
Spanish police have arrested a British former Navy sailor on suspicion of running a highly professional drugs trafficking operation with links across Europe.
Robert Mark Benson, 64, is alleged to have used his “extensive nautical knowledge” to mount an operation deploying boats to smuggle drugs across the Strait of Gibraltar.
Police said he used shell companies to launder money from for the trafficking operation. In 2015, Mr Benson set up Yacht Matters, a business that buys and sells yachts, and property firm Real Estate cafe. The two Marbella-based businesses have reported combined assets of eight million euros.
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