WIREDGOV

Border Force seized a record 1,298kg of ketamine in the first three months of 2026, the highest quarterly total for 15 years.

Border Force has seized a record amount of ketamine at the UK border, preventing almost 1.3 tonnes of the dangerous drug from reaching communities across the country.

Officers seized 1,298kg of ketamine during the first quarter of 2026, a 42% increase on the final three months of 2025, when almost 915kg was intercepted before entering the UK illegally. The figure is the highest quarterly total for 15 years and exceeds the previous record of 1,238kg seized in the second quarter of 2025.

The milestone comes amid increasing concern over the harm caused by ketamine misuse, particularly among young people. Regular use can lead to severe and permanent health problems, including irreversible damage to the bladder and urinary tract. In the most serious cases, ketamine misuse can be fatal.

Border Force officers at Harwich International Port alone have seized 300kg of ketamine over the past year. Two major interceptions involving drivers arriving from the Hook of Holland in February and May resulted in seizures of 100kg and 200kg respectively.

The latest figures also highlight the scale of wider enforcement activity at the border. Officers seized more than 59,000 doses of nitrous oxide in the first quarter of 2026, compared with just over 35,000 doses in the previous quarter. More than 9,000kg of cocaine was intercepted during the same period, while herbal cannabis accounted for around 85% of all drug seizures by weight.

Home Office Minister Jo White said:

The record amount of ketamine seized at our border reflects the dedication, professionalism and vigilance of Border Force officers, who work around the clock to keep dangerous drugs off our streets.

Every seizure prevents harm, disrupts organised crime and helps protect families and communities across the country. Criminal gangs profit from addiction and misery, and we are determined to stop them.

As criminal networks adapt and new threats emerge, our response will remain relentless. We will continue strengthening our borders, targeting organised crime and preventing harmful drugs from reaching our communities.

The figures come as the Home Secretary secured a new agreement with Five Eyes partners – the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand – at the Five Country Ministerial in Sydney to strengthen the international response to synthetic opioids.

Synthetic opioids are among the most dangerous drugs in circulation. Nitazenes can be between 50 and 500 times more potent than heroin, creating a significant risk of accidental overdose.

Their extreme potency means even tiny quantities can be difficult to detect and intercept. More than 1,000 confirmed deaths in the UK were linked to synthetic opioids between 1 June 2023 and 5 June 2025.

Under the new agreement, Five Eyes partners will deepen co-operation with industry and international organisations to target criminal networks involved in synthetic drugs and precursor chemicals.

Ministers also agreed closer collaboration on regulation and intelligence sharing to strengthen controls on precursor chemicals, prevent diversion into illicit supply chains and disrupt organised crime groups involved in production and trafficking.

Progress has also been made on last year’s commitment to develop a synthetic opioid pills profiler. Early versions of the database are now being used across Border Force and policing, enhancing frontline capability to identify and respond to emerging synthetic drug threats.