Drug Bust: £3.5m Cocaine Haul Hidden in Jamaican Fruit Shipment
Derick Everton Grant, 52, from Jamaica, is at the centre of a major drug bust. The food import boss allegedly smuggled 22kg of cocaine hidden inside tins of ackee—the national Jamaican fruit—shipped in 10 pallets to Portbury Dock, Bristol.
Border Force Uncovers Cocaine in Fruit Tins
On Friday 17 March, Border Force officers uncovered the operation by searching the shipment. They found several boxes where tins supposedly filled with ackee were actually stuffed with cocaine. The haul, weighing 22 kilos, could be worth millions on the street.
Arrests Made in Bristol Drug Sting
Grant was arrested yesterday morning as he left a Bristol flat on Broomhill Road. He was caught carrying a bag with his passport, a large sum of cash, and two expensive watches. Police also detained a 41-year-old man and a 35-year-old woman from Bristol. Both were later released on bail following interviews.
Law Enforcement Teams Praise Cross-Agency Success
The crackdown was a joint effort involving Border Force, Avon and Somerset Police, the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit, and HMRC.
Anthony Hubbard, NCA operations manager, said: “This operation will have a significant impact on the supply of illegal drugs in the Bristol area. It is a superb example of what we achieve through collaboration, working with law enforcement partners to disrupt criminal activity and protect the UK’s border security.”
“We share a determination to bear down on criminal exploitation of our ports and yesterday’s operation demonstrates that in action. I want to thank those partners who worked with us. Our investigation continues.”
