Border Force have seized an enormous 拢100million in cocaine in one of the biggest drug busts in years in the UK.
The massive haul was discovered hidden beneath containers on a ship arriving at London Gateway port from Panama, the Home Office said.
Specialist officers identified the shipment earlier this month after conducting an intelligence-led operation.
With assistance from the port operator, they moved 37 large containers to access the stash.
Valued at an estimated 拢96million, this marks the sixth-largest cocaine seizure on record.
Minister for migration and citizenship Seema Malhotra said: ‘Drugs gangs trying to import illegal substances into the UK are a blight on society and we will leave no stone left unturned in our pursuit of organised crime gangs inflicting addiction, misery and death upon Britain’s communities.
‘Well done to Border Force Maritime officers on a hugely successful operation, which has struck a major blow against the criminals threatening our country.’
Cocaine-related deaths in England and Wales rose by 31% between 2022 and 2023, the Home Office said.
This has been blamed the being brought into the country as being of higher quality but also more dangerous,
Border Force Maritime director Charlie Eastaugh said: ‘This seizure – one of the largest of its kind – is just one example of how dedicated Border Force maritime officers remain one step ahead of the criminal gangs who threaten our security.
‘Our message to these criminals is clear – more than ever before, we are using intelligence and international law enforcement co-operation to disrupt and dismantle your operations.’
Mr Eastaugh told the Times: ‘I鈥檓 really worried that there could be some really awful mixing and cutting of cocaine in order to maximise profits by organised criminals who have absolutely no regard for the health of members of the public, children and communities who are affected by importation of cocaine.’
He explained that criminal gangs are shifting their tactics in response to the progress made by the Home Office and, in particular, Border Force Maritime.
While efforts to crack down on drug imports have intensified, he acknowledged that drug trafficking remains a major problem in the UK.
Global cocaine production continues to rise, and consumption levels in the UK are still alarmingly high.
Container ships are one of the main methods used by gangs to smuggle cocaine into the UK, Mr Eastaugh told the newspaper.
Meanwhile, a haul of 20 firearms, 320 rounds of ammunition, 170kg of ketamine and 4,000 MDMA pills have been found in a lorry at Dover Port.
National Crime Agency investigators estimate the street value of the ketamine would have been around 拢4.5 million and 拢40,000 for the MDMA.
The driver, a 34-year-old Tajikstan national, was arrested on suspicion of smuggling the illegal items.