Entrepreneur tried to smuggle cocaine worth £133,000,000 on his yacht
A jewellery entrepreneur has been jailed for 16 years after he was caught trying to smuggle two tonnes of cocaine into Europe.
Maarten Pieterse, 61, was caught 120 miles south-west of the Cornish coast with 1,161 blocks of the drug hidden in a specially built compartment on his yacht.
UK Border Force officials intercepted him on July 18 last year.
His 40,000 Euro yacht is believed to have been bound for Belgium when it was intercepted on its way from Marina d’Angra in the Azores.
Bristol Crown Court heard Pieterse had no previous convictions and pleaded guilty to carrying or concealing a controlled drug on a ship. His criminal suppliers have not yet been identified.
The court heard Pieterse had ‘a well lived life’ and was motivated by ‘financial advantage’.
‘I don’t doubt your involvement in this enterprise has been shocking to some of those who thought they knew you well.’
Following the sentencing, Ty Surgeon, Operations Manager at the NCA, said: ‘This huge haul of cocaine is one of the largest seizures of class A ever in the UK, with a potential street value of more than £130 million.
‘Pieterse’s yacht had been specially adapted for the sole purpose of drug smuggling, and this seizure will have significantly disrupted the activities of organised crime groups.
‘I have no doubt these drugs were destined for Europe and the UK, to be sold by drugs gangs who are also involved in intimidation, exploitation and violence.
‘We know the criminal trade in drugs is driven by financial gain, and the loss of the profit that would have been made from this seizure will have a major impact on the crime groups involved.’
Crew member Emile Schoemaker, 45, who was arrested with Pieterse, was found not guilty of the same charge in June.
UK Border Force officials intercepted him on July 18 last year.
His 40,000 Euro yacht is believed to have been bound for Belgium when it was intercepted on its way from Marina d’Angra in the Azores.
Bristol Crown Court heard Pieterse had no previous convictions and pleaded guilty to carrying or concealing a controlled drug on a ship. His criminal suppliers have not yet been identified.
The court heard Pieterse had ‘a well lived life’ and was motivated by ‘financial advantage’.
‘I don’t doubt your involvement in this enterprise has been shocking to some of those who thought they knew you well.’
Following the sentencing, Ty Surgeon, Operations Manager at the NCA, said: ‘This huge haul of cocaine is one of the largest seizures of class A ever in the UK, with a potential street value of more than £130 million.
‘Pieterse’s yacht had been specially adapted for the sole purpose of drug smuggling, and this seizure will have significantly disrupted the activities of organised crime groups.
‘I have no doubt these drugs were destined for Europe and the UK, to be sold by drugs gangs who are also involved in intimidation, exploitation and violence.
‘We know the criminal trade in drugs is driven by financial gain, and the loss of the profit that would have been made from this seizure will have a major impact on the crime groups involved.’
Crew member Emile Schoemaker, 45, who was arrested with Pieterse, was found not guilty of the same charge in June.
