Border Force officers have seized close to five tonnes of cocaine at London Gateway port during a remarkable four-week period spanning February and March this year.
The haul, valued at an estimated £416million, represents one of the most significant drug seizures ever recorded at a British border crossing.
Among the intercepted shipments was the sixth-largest cocaine seizure in UK history, dealing a substantial financial blow to organised criminal networks.
The operations mark a major success for enforcement teams working to stem the flow of Class A drugs into Europe through British ports.
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The most substantial single discovery occurred on February 27, when officers uncovered a three-tonne consignment concealed within a shipping container.
Traffickers had disguised the cargo as banana boxes, carefully replicating the weight and dimensions of legitimate fruit shipments originating from Panama.
However, advanced scanning technology and the vigilance of Border Force personnel exposed the ruse.
The single biggest find was one of three tonnes in February
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The container's intended destination was the Netherlands rather than the UK market.
When officers opened the shipment, they found approximately 2,800 individual packages of cocaine inside.
This single seizure carried an estimated street value of £256m, making it the sixth-largest cocaine interception ever recorded.
A second major discovery followed less than a month later on March 24, when enforcement teams identified another tonne of cocaine hidden within containers purportedly carrying South American wine.
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Smugglers attempted to hide cocaine in banana crates
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Upon opening the shipment, officers recovered 1,102 packages with a combined street value of approximately £80million.
Mike Tapp, minister for migration and citizenship, said: "Thanks to the excellent work of our dedicated Border Force teams, massive quantities of lethal drugs are out of circulation, costing criminal gangs more than four hundred million pounds in estimated profits.
"Drug seizures are at an all-time high under this government, and we will not let up in our pursuit of those behind this evil trade."
Charlie Eastaugh, director of maritime and small boats, said: "These results speak for themselves: we are coming after drug smugglers.
"Last month's huge haul of cocaine one of the largest seizures on record is a major setback for organised crime."
The London Gateway interceptions form part of a broader pattern of increased enforcement activity, with Border Force recording a 40 per cent rise in drug seizures compared to the previous year.
During the 12 months ending March 2025, officers confiscated nearly 150 tonnes of illegal substances across all UK border points.
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