A group of sailors have gone on trial accused of involvement in an international drug smuggling operation after their boat was intercepted by the UK Border Force in the North Sea.

The nine men reportedly sailed the Hamal from Istanbul in Turkey to Tenerife in the Canary Islands, Spain, then from Tenerife to the North Sea, while knowingly concerned in the carrying and concealing of cocaine between February 20 and April 23, 2015.

The Turkish crewmen Kayacan Dalgakiran, 64; Mustafa Guven, 48; Mustafa Ceviz, 55; Umit Colakel, 39; Ibrahim Dag, 48; Mumin Sahin, 46; Emin Ozmen, 51; Abdulkadir Cirik, 32, and Mahammet Seckin, 27, are also alleged to have been concerned in the supply of cocaine between April 21 and 23. They deny the charges.

Sahin, the ship's master, is also charged with failing to maintain the automatic identification system for the Tanzanian-registered ship while at sea between April 21 and 23, 2015.

He denies all the charges against him and has lodged a special defence of incrimination, naming Ahmet Kurtulus, of Kiev Shipping, also named by Ozmen in a similar defence.

The trial at the High Court in Glasgow started on Wednesday and heard the National Crime Agency and UK Border Force boarded and searched the Hamal at sea about 100 miles east of Aberdeen on April 23 last year, under permission from the director of public prosecutions in Tanzania in terms of international regulations against the illicit traffic in narcotic drugs.

The details were revealed in a statement of agreed evidence which also stated the boarding forces were given the authority to make arrests, if reasonable grounds were discovered, and seize any items found on board which appeared to be evidence.

When the officers boarded the ship the nine crew members were the only people on board.

The trial, before Judge Lord Kinclaven, which is expected to last an estimated three months, continues.

Download: The STV News app is Scotland's favourite and is available for iPhone from the App store and for Android from Google Play. Download it today and continue to enjoy STV News wherever you are.