Failed escape: smugglers jumped overboard, but were detained by border guards (7 photos + 1 video)
Two smugglers, Bruce Knowles, 55, and Ferhat Gumrukguoglu, 31, were at the centre of a successful drug bust when their boat, loaded with 350kg of cocaine worth £39m, was intercepted by watchful Border Force officers in Suffolk waters. 
The incident took place on 24 June. The smugglers' boat initially stopped when a Border Force boat approached, but then Knowles started the engine and attempted to escape. It didn't work out: the boat ran aground on the shore, and the men had no choice but to jump overboard in panic, trying to swim to shore.
Gumrukguoglu was the first to jump into the water, followed by Knowles.
A dramatic chase began - border guards rushed after the fugitives, trying not to lose sight of them.
Officers managed to detain Knowles immediately, while Gumrukguoğlu managed to escape, but was arrested later that day in Wrentham, Norfolk.
A search of the boat has produced some truly shocking results - a cargo of cocaine was found under the tarpaulin, which could bring the criminals a huge profit.
Investigators believe the smugglers went to French waters to pick up drugs from a larger vessel and then bring them to the UK. Both men were questioned and did not comment, but were later charged with importing a controlled drug.
On August 20, Knowles and Gumrukguoglu, who initially denied everything, pleaded guilty in court. Now they will face severe punishment for attempting to import such a large amount of illegal drugs. Both worked for a large organized crime group, which will certainly feel the impact of losing such a large amount of drugs.
Dutch national Ferhat Gumrukguoğlu (left) and British national Bruce Knowles (right), who was driving the boat during the chase
The National Crime Agency and Border Guard command expressed satisfaction with the results of the operation, stressing that they will continue to tirelessly combat organised crime that destroys people's lives.
