£40m Cocaine Haul Found In Bananas At Portsmouth Port

2 December 2014, 18:29

Cocaine with an estimated UK street value of more than £40 million has been seized following an operation involving the National Crime Agency, Border Force and the Irish Garda.

The drugs were seized following the search of the cargo vessel Star Stratos at Portsmouth port yesterday evening (Monday 1 December).

Approximately 300 kilos were discovered concealed within a shipment of bananas which had originated in Colombia.

Investigations are continuing both in the UK and Ireland in conjunction with An Garda Síochána.

Deputy director Tom Dowdall, from the National Crime Agency's Border Policing Command, said:

"Working with our law enforcement partners in the UK and Ireland we have successfully prevented a huge quantity of what is likely to be very high purity cocaine reaching our streets.

"Our investigations into the organised crime groups likely to be responsible for this shipment continues.

"This seizure once again demonstrates the international reach of the NCA and the impact we are having on the criminal networks involved in drug trafficking."

Border Force Regional Director Carole Upshall said:
 
"Border Force officers are on the front line of the fight to stop illegal drugs like cocaine making it on to the UK's streets and causing harm to our communities.
 
"Working with the NCA we are determined to do all we can to tackle traffickers and the criminal groups behind smuggling."