Cocaine worth £232m found in banana shipment
NCACocaine with a street value of £232m was discovered hidden in a large shipment of bananas from South America.
The 2.9-tonne (2,900kg) haul was smuggled into London Gateway Port in Thurrock, Essex, on Thursday.
The drugs were removed from the container and then delivered to an address near Buntingford, Hertfordshire, where Border Force officers swooped in.
They arrested nine men allegedly connected to the bust, who were later released on bail.
Border Force had been tipped off about the illegal consignment by the National Crime Agency.
NCA"This is a very significant seizure which has deprived the organised crime group behind it of huge profits," said senior investigating officer Dave Phillips.
"That is money that cannot be ploughed back into further crime."
Do you have a story suggestion? Contact us below.
Follow East of England news on X, Instagram and Facebook: BBC Beds, Herts & Bucks, BBC Cambridgeshire, BBC Essex, BBC Norfolk, BBC Northamptonshire or BBC Suffolk.
