UK authorities have seized almost three tonnes of cocaine at London Gateway Port in Essex as part of a National Crime Agency (NCA) investigation.
The 2.9-tonne shipment, with an estimated street value of £232 million, was discovered on Thursday after Border Force officers acted on intelligence provided by the NCA.
The cocaine was concealed within a shipment of bananas from South America.
Following the discovery, authorities removed the cocaine from the shipment. The container was then allowed to continue its journey.
It was later collected and delivered to a location near Buntingford, Hertfordshire.
Nine men were subsequently arrested in connection with the investigation. They were later released on bail.
Dave Phillips, NCA senior investigating officer, described the seizure as significant and said it had deprived the organised crime group behind the shipment of substantial profits.
“This is a very significant seizure which has deprived the organised crime group behind it of huge profits,” said Phillips.
“That is money that cannot be ploughed back into further crime.”
He added that the NCA would continue working with Border Force and international partners to combat Class A drug trafficking.
The investigation remains ongoing.
