Yorkshire trio charged over 1,000 kilo cocaine haul on yacht

A woman and two men from West Yorkshire have been charged over a plot to import 1,000 kilogrammes of cocaine into the UK on a yacht.
By The Newsroom
Published 26th Mar 2015, 12:18 BST
Members of the navy stand behind what is believed to be around 80 million euro (£62.5 million) worth of cocaine which was taken from onboard the yacht MakayabellaMembers of the navy stand behind what is believed to be around 80 million euro (£62.5 million) worth of cocaine which was taken from onboard the yacht Makayabella
Members of the navy stand behind what is believed to be around 80 million euro (£62.5 million) worth of cocaine which was taken from onboard the yacht Makayabella

They appeared in court yesterday after being charged as part of a National Crime Agency investigation into the seizure of the Class A drugs by the Irish authorities.

The drugs were found on the yacht Makayabella off the south-west coast of Ireland in September 2014.

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David Webster, aged 44, of Rillmead, Otley, Philip McElhone, aged 29, of Freemantle Place, Halton Moor, and Dawne Powell, aged 56 of Netherfield Road, Guiseley, were charged with conspiracy to import cocaine. Powell was also charged with money laundering.

All three appeared at Wakefield Magistrates Court yesterday and were remanded to appear at Leeds Crown Court on April 8.

Last year, Stephen Powell, 48, from Guiseley, was jailed for 16 years for his part in plotting to smuggle cocaine with an estimated street value of £150m into the UK.

The operation against the smuggling plot had involved the Irish Naval Service and the National Crime Agency (NCA).