UK seizes 2.4 tons of cocaine in one of the largest drug busts in history
Photo: Britain halts one of the largest cocaine shipments (Independent)
One of the largest anti-drug operations in UK history has been carried out. Border guards discovered a large shipment of drugs on a vessel from Panama, informs the Independent.
The Border Service seized 2.4 tons of cocaine in one of the biggest drug busts in Great Britain's history. The haul, valued at £96 million, or nearly $70 million, is the sixth-largest cocaine seizure recorded to date.
Photo: Britain halts one of the largest cocaine shipments (Independent)
The massive shipment was found earlier this month. Border officers discovered the drugs hidden beneath containers on a ship arriving at the London Gateway port from Panama.
Specialists, acting on intelligence, worked with the port operator to move 37 large containers. They eventually uncovered the illegal shipment.
"Drug gangs trying to import illegal substances into the UK are a blight on society, and we will leave no stone left unturned in our pursuit of organised crime gangs inflicting addiction, misery, and death upon Britain’s communities," Minister for Migration and Citizenship Seema Malhotra said.
It is worth noting that recently in Ukraine, members of the international criminal group 'Ndrangheta were convicted for smuggling cocaine from South America to the European Union.
According to case materials, the accused include two citizens of Balkan countries and one Ukrainian.
They were responsible for establishing the cocaine supply channel to the EU. The criminals attempted to smuggle 80 kilograms of cocaine into Europe by hiding it in the technological cavities of refrigerated containers carrying bananas from South America.
