Cocaine value £256m discovered hidden in banana packing containers in main crackdown
One Border Force police search found three tones of cocaine disguised as banana boxes in a shipping container, with a estimated street value of a massive £256 million
Officers carried out major operations in February and March at London Gateway port(Image: HOME OFFICE)
More than £400 million of cocaine has been seized at the UK border in under a month.
Officers carried out major operations in February and March at London Gateway port, which included the sixth‑largest cocaine seizure on record.
The mammoth three tonne haul – heavier than an adult rhino – was discovered disguised as banana boxes in a shipping container, and has an estimated street value is £256 million.
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Elite Border Security Command Maritime officers intercepted the shipment from Panama bound for the Netherlands on February 27 2026. The smugglers had tried to replicate the exact shape and weight of banana boxes to conceal the drugs inside, among fruit in a single shipping container. High-tech scanners saw through the ruse, with officers discovering almost 2,800 packages of cocaine — making it one of the largest cocaine seizures on record.
Meanwhile on March 24, cocaine worth an estimated £80 million was seized from a shipping container carrying South American wine. Combined with further seizures in March, it means around five tonnes were detected at London Gateway port in just under a month, with an estimated street value surpassing £400 million.
Minister for Migration and Citizenship Mike Tapp 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. We will do whatever it takes to secure our borders, keep our streets safe and protect the public.”
Director of Maritime and Small Boats Charlie Eastaugh 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.
“Working alongside our law enforcement and intelligence partners in the UK and overseas, we will continue to clamp down on these criminal networks to keep the public safe.”
