In less than a month, over £400 million worth of cocaine has been confiscated at the UK border. The operations conducted in February and March at London Gateway port resulted in the sixth-largest cocaine seizure on record.
A massive three-tonne haul of cocaine, valued at £256 million, was found cleverly disguised as banana boxes in a shipping container. Border security officers intercepted the shipment from Panama bound for the Netherlands on February 27, 2026. Despite the smugglers’ attempt to conceal the drugs in banana boxes, advanced scanners revealed nearly 2,800 packages of cocaine.
Additionally, on March 24, approximately £80 million worth of cocaine was seized from a shipping container carrying South American wine. When combined with other seizures in March, a total of around five tonnes of cocaine were detected at London Gateway port, exceeding an estimated street value of £400 million.
Minister for Migration and Citizenship, Mike Tapp, commended the Border Force teams for their exceptional work in removing significant amounts of dangerous drugs from circulation, depriving criminal organizations of substantial profits. He emphasized the government’s commitment to combatting drug trafficking and ensuring public safety.
Director of Maritime and Small Boats, Charlie Eastaugh, highlighted the success in disrupting organized crime through the recent major cocaine seizure. He affirmed the ongoing collaboration with law enforcement and intelligence partners to dismantle criminal networks and safeguard the public.
The recent drug seizures underscore the government’s unwavering efforts to tackle drug smuggling and protect communities from the harmful effects of illegal drugs.
