What was Operation Seal Bay in Pembrokeshire?

Operation Seal Bay was a police investigation in 1983 that dismantled a major drug smuggling ring using a hidden bunker on the Pembrokeshire coast.

How did locals help catch the drug smugglers?

Local residents' keen observations of suspicious activities and knowledge of the coastline provided crucial leads that helped police apprehend the smugglers.

Where was the hidden bunker found in Pembrokeshire?

A secret bunker was discovered buried under pebbles on the beach at Traeth Cell Hywel, south of Ceibwr Bay, in Pembrokeshire, Wales.

Home / Crime and Justice / Pembrokeshire Locals Uncover £7M Drug Smuggling Ring

Pembrokeshire Locals Uncover £7M Drug Smuggling Ring

25 Dec, 2025

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Summary

Locals aided police in dismantling a £7 million cannabis smuggling operation.
A hidden bunker on the Pembrokeshire coast served as a key staging point.
Community vigilance and local knowledge were crucial to the smugglers' downfall.

Pembrokeshire Locals Uncover £7M Drug Smuggling Ring

In 1983, the rural Pembrokeshire coastline became the unlikely setting for the downfall of an international drug-smuggling ring. The operation, involving three tonnes of cannabis valued at £7 million, was thwarted by the sharp eyes and local knowledge of Welsh residents. A 19-year-old farmer's daughter's decision to follow a suspicious man led to his arrest, uncovering a complex plot.

The investigation revealed a meticulously constructed bunker hidden on the beach at Traeth Cell Hywel, equipped with boating gear. This discovery, made by local volunteers, exposed the smugglers' sophisticated staging point. The community's collective efforts, from fishermen reporting tampered pots to farmers noticing unfamiliar individuals, provided crucial intelligence that technology and international agencies missed.