- Border Force officers seized approximately one tonne of cocaine, with an estimated street value of £80 million, at London Gateway port in Essex on Friday.
- The illicit consignment was found packaged in several holdalls within a shipping container that had arrived from Panama and was destined for Norway, hidden among ceramics and kitchenware.
- The National Crime Agency (NCA) has launched an investigation, working with international partners to identify the routing and target those involved, as the UK is not believed to be the final destination.
- NCA senior investigating officer Paul Orchard highlighted that this significant seizure deprives organised criminals of millions in profits.
- This incident follows a recent week-long police operation targeting drug gangs, which led to over 2,000 arrests and the closure of 335 'drug lines', alongside a record high in cocaine seizures last year.
IN FULL
Tonne of cocaine shipped from Panama and valued at £80m seized by UK Border Force
