Cocaine worth £232m found in banana shipment
Image source, NCA-
Published
Cocaine with a street value of £232m was discovered hidden in a large shipment of bananas from South America.
The 2.9-tonne (2,900kg) haul was smuggled into London Gateway Port in Thurrock, Essex, on Thursday.
The drugs were removed from the container and then delivered to an address near Buntingford, Hertfordshire, where Border Force officers swooped in.
They arrested nine men allegedly connected to the bust, who were later released on bail.
Border Force had been tipped off about the illegal consignment by the National Crime Agency.
Image source, NCA“This is a very significant seizure which has deprived the organised crime group behind it of huge profits,” said senior investigating officer Dave Phillips.
“That is money that cannot be ploughed back into further crime.”
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