Cocaine worth £232m seized in National Crime Agency investigation

11 Aug 2026 01:53 PM

A huge seizure of almost three tonnes of cocaine has been made as part of a National Crime Agency investigation.

The haul – which has an estimated street value of £232m – was made on Thursday 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, yesterday 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.”