£10 Million Cocaine Haul Found Hidden Under Banana Ship at Kent Port
In a blockbuster sting, the National Crime Agency (NCA), police, and Border Force have seized a massive stash of cocaine hidden inside a banana boat docked at Sheerness Port, Kent.
Drugs Concealed Underwater in Ship’s Hull
The 137kg of class A drugs were cunningly stashed in four large holdalls beneath the waterline, inside the ship’s sea chest—a watery cavity used for stability. The Panamanian-registered vessel, originally destined for the Netherlands, was hauled in for inspection on October 14, following vital intelligence from the NCA.
In difficult conditions, a specialist diving team from the National Police Chiefs Council combed the ship’s hull underwater. They uncovered the haul behind locked grills. Border Force’s National Deep Rummage Team and Peel Ports staff spent five hours retrieving the cocaine.
Rare Underwater Drogue Bust Worth Over £10m
The street value of this cocaine haul tops £10 million once processed—a huge blow to gangsters profiting from the deadly trade. This marks only the second time class A drugs were found concealed underwater in the UK. The last was a 46kg cocaine seizure in bristol/" title="Bristol" data-wpil-keyword-link="linked">Bristol back in November 2021.
David Phillips, NCA Operations Manager, said: “This was an extremely rare and sophisticated concealment, showing how far criminal networks go to flood our streets with cocaine. These gangs fuel violence and exploitation in communities.”
Cross-Border Hunt to Crack Wider Gang Network
Authorities in the UK, the Netherlands, and Panama are now working hard to trace the cocaine’s intended destination and bring those behind the smuggling to justice.
Stephen Whitton, Deputy Director of Border Force Maritime Command, added: “Border Force is relentless in intercepting drug supply chains. We will keep working closely with partners to outsmart criminals’ evolving smuggling tactics into and out of the UK.”
This high-stakes operation underlines the tough, united front law enforcement is mounting against organised crime and the destructive flow of illegal drugs flooding UK streets.
