Member

Those virtues were exemplified in full yesterday in the English Channel. In the early hours of the morning, 25 miles south of the Isle of Wight, Royal Marine commandos fast-roped under the cover of darkness on to the deck of the “Smyrtos”, a 244-metre oil tanker, which at the time of interception was travelling at 10 knots. Within a matter of minutes, our marines had seized control of the vessel without resistance. They worked closely in this operation with specialist officers from the National Crime Agency and were supported by aircraft from the Maritime Air Group, including Chinooks, Merlin Mk4 and Wildcat helicopters, an RAF P-8, Type 23 frigate HMS “Sutherland” and minehunter HMS “Ledbury”. I take this opportunity to recognise the vital contribution of the Home Office’s Border Security Command maritime teams.