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Episode details

Radio Solent,4 mins

Story of "Freshwater Five" turned into play

Available for over a year

In 2010 eleven holdalls were discovered along the shore near Freshwater on the Isle of Wight; when opened they contained £53m worth of cocaine – the biggest haul ever found in UK waters at the time. A local fishing crew was accused of waiting in the Channel for the bags to be thrown from a passing cargo ship in an operation. The Freshwater Five were sentenced to a total of 104 years’ in jail in 2011 after being convicted by an 11-1 majority jury verdict. The five men have consistently maintained their innocence.

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