London Gateway cocaine worth £96m seized in ‘one of largest’ busts
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London Gateway cocaine worth £96m seized in ‘one of largest’ busts
£96m of cocaine seized from vessel at UK port in Stanford-le-Hope, Essex. Officials had to move 37 large containers to locate the 2.4-tonne haul. It was the sixth largest cocaine seizure since records
The cocaine haul was one of the largest of the past decade
Cocaine with a street value of almost £100m has been seized by Border Force officers in “one of the largest drugs busts of the past decade”.
The shipment was intercepted earlier this month on a container vessel arriving at London Gateway port from Panama.
Border Force officials and staff at the port in Stanford-le-Hope, Essex, had to move 37 large containers to locate the 2.4-tonne haul.
Worth an estimated £96m, it was the sixth largest cocaine seizure since records began, the Home Office said.
Cocaine worth £100m seized by Border Force officers in huge port bust
Cocaine worth £100m seized by Border Force officers in huge port bust. It is the sixth-largest cocaine haul found since records began. £96m cocaine haul seized at UK port in one of biggest drugs busts in years. A haul of 20 firearms, 320 rounds of ketamine and 4,000 MDMA pills have been found in a lorry at Dover Port. The driver, a 34-year-old Tajikstan national, was arrested on suspicion of smuggling the illegal items. The haul was found under containers on a ship arriving into London Gateway port from Panama, the Home Office said. Cocaine-related deaths in England and Wales rose by 31% between 2022 and 2023.
It is the sixth-largest cocaine haul found since records began.
£96m cocaine haul seized at UK port in one of biggest drugs busts in years.
Border Force officers have seized 2.4 tonnes of cocaine with a value of almost £100 million in one of the biggest drugs busts in years.
The enormous haul was found under containers on a ship arriving into London Gateway port from Panama, the Home Office said.
Specialist officers detected the shipment earlier this month after carrying out an intelligence-led operation.
With help from the port operator, they moved 37 large containers to get at the stash.
Worth an estimated £96 million, it marks the sixth-largest cocaine seizure since records began.
Minister for migration and citizenship Seema Malhotra said: “Drugs gangs trying to import illegal substances into the UK are a blight on society.
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“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.”
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Cocaine-related deaths in England and Wales rose by 31% between 2022 and 2023, the Home Office said.
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.”
Container ships are one of the main methods used by gangs to smuggle cocaine into the UK, Mr Eastaugh told The Times.
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 £4.5 million and £40,000 for the MDMA.
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The driver, a 34-year-old Tajikstan national, was arrested on suspicion of smuggling the illegal items.
Cocaine haul worth nearly £100m seized in one of UK’s biggest-ever drugs busts
The haul, weighing 2.4 tonnes, was found under containers on a ship arriving from Panama. It had been detected earlier this year after an intelligence-led operation. It is the sixth-largest cocaine seizure in UK history, according to Border Force. A separate haul of 170 kilos of ketamine, 4,000 MDMA pills, and 20 firearms were found on a lorry at Dover Port in Kent. A 34-year-old Tajikistan national was arrested at the scene on suspicion of smuggling the items.
The haul, weighing 2.4 tonnes, was found under containers on a ship arriving from Panama at London Gateway port in Thurrock, Essex.
It had been detected earlier this year after an intelligence-led operation but was intercepted as it arrived in the UK this week.
With the help of the port operator, 37 large containers were moved to uncover the drugs, worth an estimated £96m.
The haul is the sixth-largest cocaine seizure in UK history, according to Border Force.
Its 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 cooperation to disrupt and dismantle your operations.”
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Container ships are one of the main ways international gangs smuggle Class A drugs into the UK, Mr Eastaugh said.
Cocaine deaths in England and Wales increased by 31% between 2022 and 2023, according to the latest Home Office data.
Elsewhere this weekend, a separate haul of 170 kilos of ketamine, 4,000 MDMA pills, and 20 firearms were found on a lorry at Dover Port in Kent.
Image: One of the 20 firearms found at Dover Port. Pic: NCA
Experts estimate the ketamine’s street value to be £4.5m, with the MDMA worth at least £40,000.
The driver of the lorry, a 34-year-old Tajikistan national, was arrested at the scene on suspicion of smuggling the items, the National Crime Agency said.
Border Force seizes 2.4 tonnes of cocaine in one of UK’s largest-ever busts
The colossal haul, valued at £96 million, was discovered earlier in June. It was hidden beneath containers on a vessel arriving at London Gateway port from Panama. It marks the sixth-largest cocaine seizure ever recorded in the UK. A haul of 20 firearms, 320 rounds of ammunition, 170kg of ketamine and 4,000 MDMA pills were found in a lorry at Dover Port. The driver, a 34-year-old Tajikstan national, was arrested on suspicion of smuggling the illegal items. Cocaine-related deaths in England and Wales rose by 31 per cent between 2022 and 2023, the Home Office said.
Border Force officers have seized a staggering 2.4 tonnes of cocaine, with an estimated street value of almost £100 million, in one of the largest drug busts seen in years.
The colossal haul, valued at £96 million, was discovered earlier in June, hidden beneath containers on a vessel arriving at London Gateway port from Panama.
Specialist officers, acting on intelligence, worked with the port operator to move 37 large containers, ultimately uncovering the illicit shipment.
This significant interception marks the sixth-largest cocaine seizure ever recorded in the UK.
“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,” Minister for Migration and Citizenship Seema Malhotra said.
“Well done to Border Force Maritime officers on a hugely successful operation, which has struck a major blow against the criminals threatening our country.”
open image in gallery Border Force officers have seized 2.4 tonnes of cocaine on a ship arriving into London Gateway port from Panama, the Home Office said
Cocaine-related deaths in England and Wales rose by 31 per cent between 2022 and 2023, the Home Office said.
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.”
Container ships are one of the main methods used by gangs to smuggle cocaine into the UK, Mr Eastaugh told The Times.
Meanwhile, a haul of 20 firearms, 320 rounds of ammunition, 170kg of ketamine and 4,000 MDMA pills were found in a lorry at Dover Port.
National Crime Agency investigators estimate the street value of the ketamine would have been around £4.5 million and £40,000 for the MDMA.
The driver, a 34-year-old Tajikstan national, was arrested on suspicion of smuggling the illegal items.
Border Force busts ‘one of biggest drug hauls in UK history’ as £96MILLION of cocaine found at port
Border Force busts ‘one of biggest drug hauls in UK history’ as £96MILLION of cocaine found at port. 2.4 tonnes of cocaine with a value of almost £100 million has been seized. The huge drug haul was found under containers on a ship arriving into London Gateway port from Panama. Officers detected the shipment earlier this month following an intelligence-led operation. With help from the port operator, officers moved 37 large containers to get to the stash. It marks the sixth-largest cocaine bust since records began, a Home Office spokesperson said. Minister for migration and citizenship Seema Malhotra said: “Drugs gangs trying to import illegal substances into the UK are a blight on society”
Border Force officials have made one of the biggest drug busts in years as 2.4 tonnes of cocaine with a value of almost £100 million has been seized. The huge drug haul was found under containers on a ship arriving into London Gateway port from Panama, a Home Office spokesperson said.
Officers detected the shipment earlier this month following an intelligence-led operation. With help from the port operator, officers moved 37 large containers to get to the stash.
With a value of £96 million, it marks the sixth-largest cocaine bust since records began. 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.
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.”
Elsewhere this week, guns and drugs worth millions were seized when a lorry was stopped at Dover. The National Crime Agency announced officers had seized 20 guns, 320 rounds of ammunition and 170kg of ketamine from a Lithuanian HGV of the Port of Dover.
The officers, working with Border Force officials, stopped the lorry on Monday, June 23, with officers also finding 4,000 MDMA pills hidden in the vehicle.
Image: NCA) NCA)
NCA investigators have estimated the street value of the ketamine alone would have been around £4.5 million, and £40,000 for the thousands of pills.
The guns are yet to be tested by NCA experts but are believed to be viable pistols. The driver, a 34-year-old Tajikstan national, was arrested on suspicion of smuggling the guns and drugs.
NCA senior investigating officer Darren Herbert said: “With thanks to our Border Force colleagues, an arsenal of deadly firearms, as well as harmful drugs, have been seized before they could reach the criminal supply chain.
“Our investigation to trace and detain the individuals responsible for the attempted importation is ongoing.
Image: NCA) NCA)
“Alongside our domestic and international partners, we are relentless in our efforts to suppress the supply of firearms to UK-based organised crime groups.”
Border Force Director for South East Region, Dave Smith said: “This is a significant seizure which demonstrates the vital work Border Force officers do every day to keep lethal weapons and dangerous drugs off our streets.
“The firearms and drugs intercepted could have caused untold damage to our communities if they had reached their intended destination.
“We will continue to work closely with the NCA to bring those responsible to justice and disrupt criminal networks involved in smuggling.”