Two men from Preston have been convicted in connection with a massive cocaine haul worth £26.5 million, recovered off the Somerset coastline at Watchet Marina.
Colin Benson, 60, and Joshua Rose, 38, both of Longton, Lancashire, were arrested by the National Crime Agency (NCA) following the seizure at Watchet Marina on July 30, 2025. The pair had been positioned on the shore waiting for a Rigid Hulled Inflatable Boat (RHIB) named “the Guzzla,” which had gone out to collect the drugs.
Aboard the vessel at the time were Craig Nuttall, 51, Anestis Tsepa, 25, and Melios Delvina, 39, while Benson and Rose stayed ashore alongside Craig Nuttall’s brother, Raymond, 48. The Nuttall brothers from Preston received sentences for their involvement the previous year.
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Evidence revealed that Benson made several trips between Preston and Watchet Marina in the days leading up to the drug pickup, carrying out reconnaissance for the operation and meeting with accomplices Raymond Nuttall, Tsepa, and Delvina. Despite the arrests of the others by NCA officers at 1 a.m. on July 31, Benson and Rose fled the scene separately but later traveled together back to Preston.
ANPR cameras tracked Benson’s numerous journeys to the marina, and investigators observed him on multiple occasions near the Nuttalls’ vehicle, including the day before the importation. On the night of the pickup, Benson was seen with Raymond Nuttall shortly before the boat returned with the cocaine.
After the arrests, officers searched the RHIB and uncovered 14 large parcels containing 322 smaller packages, each weighing one kilogram. Laboratory tests confirmed the cocaine’s purity at 89 percent, estimating a street value of £26.5 million. A firearm was also recovered from the boat.
Financial investigations highlighted connections between Benson and Rose, with a company linked to Rose making 24 payments to Benson during the year surrounding the importation. The four men arrested earlier admitted to drug importation charges and received combined sentences totaling 49 years. Tsepa additionally pleaded guilty to firearm possession.
Benson was found guilty by a jury of knowingly participating in the cocaine importation and sentenced to 20 years and six months in prison at North Somerset Crown Court on April 23. Rose had previously pleaded guilty to taking part in organized crime activities; his sentencing is pending.
NCA Senior Investigating Officer Alan French commented: “Benson and Rose played key roles in planning this high-risk operation despite their attempts to avoid direct involvement in the pickup. Their efforts to evade arrest failed as the NCA continues to bring all involved in class A drug smuggling to justice.”
The NCA continues to prioritize cracking down on at-sea drug drop-offs to prevent illegal narcotics from reaching UK shores, working closely with Border Force, regional police units, and other law enforcement partners.