Prince William's Ship Makes Cocaine Bust

LONDON, July 2, 2008 — -- Britain's defense ministry says the Royal Navy ship where Prince William is serving has made a major cocaine bust in the north Atlantic.

The ministry said HMS Iron Duke intercepted a speedboat northeast of Barbados on Saturday. U.S. Coast Guard officials working on the British frigate boarded the speedboat and found 45 bales of cocaine weighing 1,900 pounds (900 kilograms). Five people were detained.

The drugs had an estimated street value of 40 million pounds (US$80 million), the ministry said Wednesday.

William, known in the navy as Sub-Lieutenant Wales, is spending five weeks at sea so he can experience all branches of the British armed forces. He is already a junior officer in the army and he has earned his wings in the Royal Air Force.