UK authorities dealt a massive blow to drug traffickers by seizing $132 million worth of cocaine at London’s Gateway port, marking the sixth-largest bust in the nation’s history.
At a Glance
- British officials have intercepted 2.4 metric tons of cocaine on a ship arriving from Panama.
- The $132 million (£100 million) seizure ranks as the sixth-largest cocaine bust in UK history.
- The intelligence-led operation discovered the narcotics hidden within a shipment of bananas.
- The bust comes amid a surge in cocaine-related deaths in the UK and record-high global production.
A Landmark Maritime Drug Bust
British authorities have scored a significant victory against international drug traffickers with the seizure of 2.4 metric tons of cocaine at the London Gateway port. The massive haul, valued at approximately $132 million, was discovered hidden within a legitimate cargo shipment. The operation, a joint effort between the UK Border Force and the National Crime Agency (NCA), is the sixth-largest cocaine seizure on record in the UK.
The bust is the latest in a series of major interdictions. In February, an even larger shipment of 5.7 tons of cocaine was seized at the port of Southampton.
Hidden Within a Banana Shipment
Acting on intelligence, Border Force officers targeted a specific container in a shipment of bananas that had arrived from Panama. According to a report from Fox News, the operation was a complex undertaking, requiring officers to move 37 large shipping containers to isolate and access the one containing the narcotics.
The seizure is a major blow to the organized crime groups responsible for supplying the European drug market. “Our message to these criminals is clear,” said Charlie Eastaugh, Director of Maritime Operations for the Border Force. “More than ever before, we are using intelligence and international law enforcement cooperation to disrupt and dismantle your operations.”
The Growing Cocaine Epidemic
This latest seizure highlights the ongoing battle against what the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has called the “fastest-growing illicit drug market.” According to Al Jazeera, global cocaine production is at a record high, and the number of worldwide users has surged to 25 million.
The United Kingdom has become a key market and transit point for the European cocaine trade. The severity of the crisis is reflected in stark public health statistics, which show that cocaine-related deaths in England and Wales have surged in recent years. This successful operation, Eastaugh told Yahoo News UK, is “just one example of how dedicated Border Force maritime officers remain one step ahead of the criminal gangs who threaten our security.”
