Authorities have seized a massive cocaine haul valued at nearly £100 million at London Gateway Port in Thurrock, Essex, marking one of the largest drug interceptions in UK history.
The 2.4-tonne shipment was discovered hidden beneath containers on a cargo vessel arriving from Panama.
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Officials say the drugs were identified earlier this year as part of an intelligence-led investigation, but were intercepted this week as the vessel docked in the UK.
With the help of port operators, 37 large containers were moved to uncover the concealed cocaine, which the Border Force estimates to be worth £96 million.
According to Border Force, this seizure ranks as the sixth-largest in UK history.
Charlie Eastaugh, Border Force’s maritime director, stated:
“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.”
Eastaugh noted that container ships are one of the primary methods international criminal networks use to traffic Class A drugs into the country.
The bust comes amid rising drug-related deaths in England and Wales, with cocaine fatalities increasing by 31% between 2022 and 2023, according to the Home Office.
In a separate incident this weekend, a lorry was intercepted at Dover Port in Kent, leading to the discovery of:
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170 kilos of ketamine (estimated street value: £4.5 million)
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4,000 MDMA pills (worth at least £40,000)
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20 firearms
The 34-year-old driver, a national of Tajikistan, was arrested on suspicion of smuggling, the National Crime Agency (NCA) confirmed.
These major busts underline the escalating efforts by UK law enforcement to stem the tide of drug trafficking and organized crime through coordinated global intelligence and port security operations.
