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.
Border Force intercepted the cocaine at the port and removed it from a trailer, before the drugs courier took the empty load to an address near Buntingford, Hertfordshire.
Nine men allegedly connected to the bust were then arrested and 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."
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