Irish Lorry Driver Busted with £3 Million Worth of Cocaine at Channel Tunnel
42 Kilos of Coke Found Hidden in Protein Powder Load
An Irish trucker has been arrested after Border Force and the National Crime Agency (NCA) uncovered 42 kilograms of cocaine stashed inside his lorry. The haul was discovered at the Channel Tunnel terminal in Coquelles, northern France, as the vehicle entered the UK zone on the night of Tuesday 19 January.
Massive Sting Hits Criminal Gang
The driver was hauling a shipment of whey protein powder when officers spotted 42 tape-wrapped packages of Class A drugs concealed among the pallets. The cocaine’s street value is estimated at around £3 million once cut and sold in the UK.
Irish Driver in Custody but Released Under Investigation
The 43-year-old from Portlaw, County Waterford, was arrested on suspicion of importing controlled drugs. He was questioned by NCA investigators before being released under investigation as enquiries continue.
NCA Vows to Smash Smuggling Networks
“This was a considerable quantity of class A drugs, and the seizure will be a big hit to the criminal enterprise involved,” said Debbie Cook, NCA Dover branch operations manager.
“Working with Border Force and other partners, we remain determined to disrupt and dismantle smuggling gangs, confiscate their contraband, and keep it off our streets.”
