Prince William has been involved in another drugs bust in the Caribbean.
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The future king – who recently won a medal for his involvement in tracking down five smugglers with a substantial cocaine haul off the coast of Barbados – was on board a Lynx helicopter chasing a speedboat suspected of shipping cocaine from South America.
When the boat tried to flee its engine was shot out, forcing those aboard to jump into the sea.
The men were later rescued and placed on HMS Iron Duke – where William is currently serving a five-week secondment with the Royal Navy – before being handed over to Columbian authorities.
While no drugs were found on the speedboat the suspects did have traces of drugs on them, sparking speculation the smugglers may have dumped their haul in the sea.
A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: “Prince William was aboard the Lynx, which was about to go out on a training flight, and it was redirected to intercept the suspect vessel.
“Prince William remained on board until the helicopter returned to Iron Duke.
“He witnessed the firing but wasn’t involved in it. He then returned to ship to resume his normal duties as officer of the watch.”
HMS Iron Duke had been tracking the boat for eight days.
Commander Mark Newland, the Commanding Officer of HMS Iron Duke, praised the officers involved in the operation, saying: “My ship’s company are elated at again disrupting the activities of the suspected drug runners.
“The skill and professionalism of my helicopter crew, and in particular the young Royal Marines who fired the rounds to stop the suspects, is an indication of the talents that lie within the Naval Service.”
