Nine Turkish men accused of drug smuggling today denied the charges against them and trial was set for next year.
The accused are alleged to have sailed on February 20 from Instanbul to Tenerife and then from there to the North Sea.
Their boat MV Hamal was boarded in UK territorial waters at the Pentland Firth approximately 100 miles east of Aberdeen on April 23 after being intercepted by a Royal Navy frigate.
It is alleged that cocaine with a street value of approximately £500 million was found on board the vessel.
Kayacan Dalgakiran, 64, Mustafa Guven, 48, Mustafa Ceviz, 44, Umit Colakel, 38, Ibrahim Dag, 47, Mumin Sahin, 46, Emin Ozmen, 50, Abdulkadir Cirik, 31, and Muhammet Seckin, 28, are charged with being knowingly concerned in the carrying and concealing of cocaine on board the ship between February 20 and April 23.
They are also accused of being concerned in the supply of cocaine between April 21 and 23.
The master of the ship Sahin is also charged with failing to maintain the automatic identification system for his ship while at sea between April 21 and 23.
All nine deny the charges against them. Yesterday they were in the dock at the High Court in Glasgow to hear that their trial has been set for April next year.
Advocate depute Ashley Edwards, prosecuting, said the case was ready for trial, but added: “The Crown is awaiting international requests from Norway and the USA.”
The prosecutor added that the ship’s log was being translated into English.
Judge Lord Bannatyne told the nine accused: “I’ll fix trial for April 4.”