£53 Million Isle of Wight Drug Haul: Fresh Evidence Ignored by Criminal Cases Review Commission
Five men locked up for up to 24 years over a £53 million Isle of Wight drug smuggling case have had their latest appeal crushed by the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC). This comes despite brand-new scientific evidence casting serious doubt on the official story, which the commission has branded irrelevant.
Fishing Boat Never Reached Drug Drop Spot, Experts Say
New expert analysis reveals the fishing vessel Galwad-y-mor, allegedly used to collect holdalls stuffed with cocaine from the English Channel, never actually reached the spot where the drugs were supposedly dumped. A marine GPS expert confirmed the two boats’ routes never came closer than 175 metres, and the water near Freshwater Bay was too shallow for the fish boat to have gone where the bags were found.
Despite this, the CCRC refused to act. Commissioner David Smith admitted no independent scientific tests were commissioned, and no new expert advice sought. Smith stated there was no “real possibility” of the men winning an appeal.
Discrepancies in Surveillance Records Ignored
Retired senior anti-drug investigator Don Dewar uncovered serious gaps in the surveillance records that helped convict the men. While the CCRC acknowledged these “inexplicable gaps,” Smith said they weren’t enough to prove tampering or fabrication. The commission’s refusal to reconsider the case comes amid controversy over dropped referral rates for possible miscarriages of justice, now at a dismal 0.7%.
Prosecution’s Story Falls Apart Under New Scrutiny
- The prosecution claimed the Galwad-y-mor crossed the wake of the Brazilian container ship Oriane during a Force 8 gale on May 29, 2010, retrieving 12 rucksacks containing 560 lb of cocaine in pitch darkness and 30ft waves.
- The crew supposedly spent ten hours fishing before dumping the cocaine back into Freshwater Bay, where another fisherman found the bags at dawn.
- The new evidence shows the two boats’ paths never crossed and currents would have pushed any dumped bags away from the fishing vessel.
Defence lawyer Emily Bolton slammed the CCRC’s decision as “baffling and perverse,” accusing the body of a “lack of understanding of technical evidence.” The men plan to take the fight further with a judicial review.
CCRC Under Fire Over Refusal to Reinvestigate
Critics argue the CCRC’s refusal to properly investigate fresh evidence signals a worrying trend. With referral rates plummeting amid budget cuts, questions are mounting over whether justice is slipping through the cracks.
Jamie Green, owner of the Galwad-y-mor, and his crew remain behind bars despite the new doubts. The fight to clear their names isn’t over yet.
