Two men have been arrested after a significant amount of drugs were seized from a boat in the English Channel.

The National Crime Agency (NCA) said the yacht was intercepted off the coast of south-west Cornwall and escorted to Newlyn.

Photographs show officers from the NCA unloading a large number of parcels wrapped in coloured packaging.

Drugs are unloaded from a boat by officers at Newlyn harbour
Parcels are unloaded from a boat by officers at Newlyn harbour (Ben Birchall/PA)

Newlyn harbour was closed for several hours while the bomb squad investigated an item recovered from the boat.

An NCA spokesman said: “As part of a National Crime Agency-led operation, the Border Force cutter HMC Vigilant intercepted a sailing yacht off the south-west coast of Cornwall and escorted the vessel into Newlyn harbour where it arrived on Thursday.

Two men have been arrested after the yacht was seized in the English Channel by the National Crime Agency (National Crime Agency /PA).
Two men have been arrested after the yacht was seized in the English Channel by the National Crime Agency (National Crime Agency /PA)

“Two men have been arrested for drug trafficking offences and are now being questioned by NCA officers, who are leading the investigation.

“Border Force and NCA officers, supported by Devon and Cornwall Police, remain at the scene.”

Bomb disposal units and National Crime Agency officers at Newlyn harbour after yacht was seized in the English Channel (Ben Birchall/PA)
Bomb disposal units and National Crime Agency officers at Newlyn harbour after yacht was seized in the English Channel (Ben Birchall/PA)

The Newlyn harbourmaster later confirmed the harbour had been re-opened.