Photo credit: National Crime Agency (NCA)
NEARLY three tonnes of cocaine worth more than £200m has been found hidden in a coverload of bananas.
A huge seizure of almost three tonnes of cocaine has been made as part of UK’s National Crime Agency investigation.
The National Crime Agency (NCA) said the haul, which has an estimated street value of £232m, was made on Thursday, August 6 at London Gateway Port in Essex.
Acting on NCA intelligence, border force officers recovered the 2.9 tonne consignment which was hidden in a coverload of bananas from South America.
The drugs were removed and the container allowed to be collected and later delivered to a location near Buntingford, Hertfordshire.
Nine men were arrested and later released on bail.
Dave Phillips, NCA senior investigating officer, said: “This is a very significant seizure which has deprived the organised crime group behind it of huge profits.
“That is money that cannot be ploughed back into further crime.
“Class A drugs wreck lives, they are toxic and can devastate our communities.
“The NCA will continue to combat the threat of Class A drugs with partners at home, such as Border Force, and further upstream in source and transit countries.”
