Three men involved in a major cocaine smuggling operation were sentenced at Taunton Crown Court after authorities discovered £26.5 million worth of the drug hidden on a boat at a Somerset marina.
Craig Nuttall, 51, and his brother Raymond Nuttall, 47, both from Preston, Lancashire, arrived at the marina on July 23, 2025, claiming they intended to sell their rigid-hulled inflatable boat (RHIB), named ‘Guzzla,’ and spend a few days fishing.
On July 30, the pair were joined by Anestis Tsepa, 24, from Thessalonika, Greece, and Melios Delvina, 38, from Albania. Surveillance captured Raymond Nuttall driving a van to the quayside, where he retrieved jerry cans and a hose before the three men set out to sea at around 8:45 p.m., wearing life jackets.
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Audio recovered from Tsepa’s device revealed that the group coordinated a ‘sea drop’—a method where drugs are transferred from a larger ‘mother vessel’ to a smaller boat for transport. The men discussed which mother ship to follow and awaited signals to retrieve the cargo, all while the engine of the ‘Guzzla’ could be heard in the background.
Returning to the marina just after 1 a.m., the men attempted to load the RHIB onto a trailer driven by Raymond Nuttall, but National Crime Agency (NCA) officers intervened and arrested all four suspects on suspicion of Class A drug importation.
A search of the ‘Guzzla’ uncovered 14 large packages containing 322 smaller kilogram-sized packages of cocaine, testing at 89% purity. In addition, a firearm was found onboard. The entire haul is estimated to have a street value of £26.5 million.
During interviews, the Nuttall brothers and Tsepa declined to comment, while Delvina claimed he believed he was only helping unload generic cargo. On August 29, both Nuttalls pleaded guilty to cocaine importation, followed by Tsepa and Delvina on September 5. Tsepa also admitted to possession of a firearm and ammunition.
Sentencing assigned Craig Nuttall and Raymond Nuttall terms of 11 years and 2 months, and 11 years and 3 months respectively. Tsepa received a 16-year sentence, while Delvina’s sentencing is pending December 11.
Gavin Webb, NCA regional head of investigations, commented: “This organised crime group sought to bring a massive volume of cocaine onto UK shores under the cover of darkness, driven purely by greed. The firearm found highlights the lengths they were willing to go. Thanks to the committed work of the NCA and partners including Border Force and regional police units, these criminals are now behind bars, disrupting the supply chain of illegal drugs destined for UK streets.”