£100 Million Cocaine Haul Seized at Dover
Two men have been arrested after police uncovered around one tonne of cocaine hidden inside a consignment of fruit at Dover. The massive drug bust, valued at a staggering £100 million, was carried out in the early hours of Tuesday, 22 September 2020. The Organised Crime Partnership (Scotland) teamed up with Border Force specialists to make the find.
Fruit Shipment From South America Conceals Major Drug Cargo
The cocaine was smuggled in pallets arriving on a vessel from South America. After the seizure, a 64-year-old man was arrested in Glasgow and a 40-year-old man was detained in Brentwood, Essex. Both face suspicion of importing class A drugs.
Police have conducted further searches in Glasgow and Essex as the probe deepens. This crackdown links directly to Operation Venetic, which has netted hundreds of arrests across the UK following the bust of an encrypted criminal communications platform.
Top Cops Slam Organised Crime, Praise Joint Effort
“This seizure is undoubtedly a massive setback for serious and organised criminals,” said Angela McLaren, Police Scotland’s Assistant Chief Constable. “Our unwavering commitment, alongside the NCA, Border Force, and SOC Taskforce, means we’ll relentlessly pursue those who bring misery to our communities, whether in Scotland or beyond.”
NCA Director of Investigations Nikki Holland added: “This huge haul would have hit the streets with a £100 million value once cut and sold. Our joint operation stopped a valuable commodity that funds serious organised crime.”
Officials Promise Ongoing Crackdown on Drug Smugglers
Minister for Immigration Compliance and the Courts Chris Philip praised Border Force officers, saying: “Their tireless frontline work prevents class A drugs like cocaine from devastating lives and communities. We’ll keep working with partners to shut down organised criminal networks and bring smugglers to justice.”
The Organised Crime Partnership (Scotland) combines Police Scotland and National Crime Agency resources to target criminal networks. The investigation continues as authorities vow to keep delivering major blows to drug trafficking across the UK.
