A ROYAL Marine Commando sniper took out a smuggling gang’s speedboat engine with a single shot while flying backwards in a helicopter in a £35million drugs bust.
The action movie-style drama ended a high-speed sea chase off the coast of Iran.
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A .50 calibre bullet was fired from an L121A1 anti-materiel rifle from the side door of a Wildcat chopper, flying backwards to give the gunman a “stable platform”.
The Ministry of Defence said the mission, launched from HMS Lancaster, was one of the most dramatic counter-drugs intercepts the Royal Navy has been involved with in the Middle East.
Three boats were stopped and more than 1.5 tons of drugs recovered.
Ex-Special Forces commando Al Carns, the armed forces minister, hailed the Navy’s “outstanding work”.
He said: “This was a well planned operation culminating in a surgical shot by a Royal Marines sniper disabling the engine of a vessel traveling at 40 knots.
“That’s excellence at work.”
Wildcat pilot Lt Guy Warry said: “Firing on drug running skiffs whilst flying backwards to provide a stable platform for the snipers was definitely a career highlight.”
It was the first time UK snipers have been used to stop smugglers in the Gulf region as they usuaslly use slower boats which are simpler to board, the MoD said.
The tactic has been used “on several occasions” in the Caribbean where smugglers routinely use speedboats.
Commander Sam Stephens, the captain of HMS Lancaster said: “I’m hugely proud of the team’s professionalism, patience, and skill throughout what was a protracted chase.”