Two Men Arrested for Smuggling Cocaine in Suffolk

Two drug smugglers, Bruce Knowles, 55, and Ferhat Gumrukguoglu, 31, were intercepted by Border Force officials near East Benacre Broads in Suffolk while attempting to transport £39 million worth of cocaine hidden in their inflatable boat. After initially stopping for the Border Force cutter, the pair attempted to escape by jumping into the water, with Gumrukguoglu swimming towards the beach. Knowles restarted the boat's engine but also leaped overboard as officers moved in to arrest them. Both men were later apprehended and charged with importing a controlled drug, to which they pleaded guilty at Ipswich Crown Court. Investigators believe they had traveled to French waters to collect the drugs from a larger vessel. NCA Branch Commander Lydia Bloomfield stated that their arrest affects a larger organized crime group, highlighting the significance of the operation.