Philip Austin Collins
Philip Austin Collins arrested in Peru with 30kg of the drug on his yacht. Perutv

Rock legend Phil Collins's nephew was being held in a Peruvian prison after he was arrested for alledgedly trying to smuggle £150,000-worth of cocaine into Britain.

Philip Austin Collins, 37, the son of the rock star's brother Clive, was taken into custody after police found 30kg of the class A drug stashed on his yacht.

Ex-pub boss Collins and two others, Gareth Young and Richard Crewe, were arrested after the 39ft vessel Audaciter docked near Lima.

Peruvian suspect Helena Ramírez Vargas was also detained.

The haul, which was reportedly hidden in fire extinguishers and gas cylinders in the cabin, was found by officers as the boat prepared to leave port.

The suspects were paraded by police for local TV cameras besides drugs seized during a month-long crackdown on alleged trafficking.

According to local reports, 27 people have been arrested in the crackdown and 5,000kg of illegal drugs have been seized.

The news is likely to be a blow to the 61-year-old former Genesis frontman. His spokesman has refused to comment.