REPORTS VARYOne tonne of cocaine valued at £80 million intercepted
A single-ton package containing approximately one metric ton (1,256 kilograms) and worth an estimated $473m (£80m), was seized by UK Border Force officers near Essex on March 24 after being shipped from Panama via a vessel in international waters before entering the port.
Key Points
-
1UK Border Force seized approximately one tonne of cocaine at London Gateway port in Essex on Friday.
-
2The illicit consignment has an estimated street value ranging from £80 million to over $125m if cut and sold locally, though it was not destined for the UK as a final destination.
-
3Border Force officers discovered approximately one tonne of cocaine packaged within several holdalls in shipping containers at London Gateway port.
-
4The National Crime Agency has confirmed an investigation is underway following this major drugs bust.
Developments
Border Force officers seized approximately one tonne of illicitly packaged cocaine with an estimated street value of £80 million from a shipping container at London Gateway port, which was destined for Norway rather than the UK. The National Crime Agency has launched investigations to identify those involved following this seizure and recent operations that resulted in over 2,000 arrests across Europe's drug networks.
Border Force officers seized approximately one tonne of cocaine worth an estimated £80 million hidden in shipping containers at London Gateway port after the cargo was intercepted while traveling from Panama to Norway. This major bust is part of a broader trend where drug interceptions have reached record levels, with total seizures rising by 24% year on year as reported figures for March 2025 show cocaine specifically up by 13%.
Border Force officers seized one tonne of shrink-wrapped cocaine worth approximately £80 million offloaded in Essex, which was bound for Norway rather than the UK and shipped from Panama alongside ceramics as a cover load. This seizure follows recent record-breaking drug interception statistics reported by police last year to March 2025.
UK Border Force officers seized approximately one tonne of cocaine valued at £80 million from a shipping container arriving in London Gateway port that originated in Panama. The National Crime Agency has launched an investigation into this consignment, which was found alongside legitimate goods and intended for Norway rather than the UK as originally suspected by some reports regarding its final destination.