In one of the biggest cocaine busts in UK history, British authorities discovered 2.4 metric tons of the drug in a ship that arrived in London from Panama.CrimeUnited KingdomUK: Over 2 tons of cocaine seized at London portDmytro Hubenko with AP, dpa2 hours ago2 hours agoIn one of the biggest cocaine busts in UK history, British authorities discovered 2.4 metric tons of the drug in a ship that arrived in London from Panama.
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Shipping containers wait to be processed at London Gateway port, in Stanford-le-Hope, on the Thames estuary east of London, England
Gangs primarily use container ships to smuggle cocaine into the United Kingdom
British authorities announced on Saturday the seizure of 2.4 metric tons of cocaine at London Gateway port, with the estimated value of 96 million pounds (€112 million or $132 million).
This is the sixth-largest seizure of cocaine since records began, according to Britain’s Home Office, the UK’s interior ministry.
The enormous haul of cocaine was found hidden under dozens of shipping containers on a vessel arriving from Panama.
The Home Office said that specialist officers detected the shipment earlier this month. With the port operator’s help, they moved 37 large containers to access the stash.
Charlie Eastaugh, director of the UK Border Force Maritime, said the seizure was “just one example of how dedicated Border Force maritime officers remain one step ahead of the criminal gangs who threaten our security.”
