A Record 6 Tonnes Of Cocaine Worth £450m Found Disguised In Cargo of Bananas At Southampton Port
26 Feb 2024
UK authorities have seized a record 5.7 tonnes of cocaine worth £450m after it was discovered in a shipment of bananas from South America.
The NCA supported by the UK Border Force successfully intercepted the shipment brought in to Southampton Port on Feb. 8.
Officers found blocks of drugs hidden within the cargo of bananas, which were reportedly heading to Hamburg in Germany.
According to the NCA, the previous largest UK seizure saw 3.7 tonnes of cocaine confiscated at Southampton Port in 2022.
NCA Director Chris said the organisation is focusing on international criminals: “This record-breaking seizure will represent a huge hit to the international organised crime cartels involved, denying them massive profits. The work of the NCA was crucial to making it happen,”
“While the destination for the consignment was continental Europe in this case, I have no doubt that a significant proportion would have ended up back here in the UK, being peddled by UK criminal gangs.”
“The NCA is targeting international networks upstream and overseas, disrupting and dismantling them at every step. International law enforcement co-operation is essential to this mission.”