£40 Million Cocaine Haul Nabbed in Village Pub Car Park
Four suspects have been arrested after a staggering half a tonne of cocaine, worth £40 million, was discovered in a village pub car park by National Crime Agency (NCA) officers.
Big Bust in Lelley, East Yorkshire
The suspects, held on suspicion of conspiracy to import class A drugs, were caught yesterday morning at around 8:30 am. The haul was hidden in the back of a van parked outside the Stags Head Inn in Lelley.
The pub declined to comment but insiders stressed the drugs had no links to staff members.
Drugs Smuggled by Sea, Abandoned Boat Found
Authorities believe the cocaine was ferried from a larger vessel off Hull using a rigid-hulled inflatable boat just hours before the arrests. That smaller boat was later found abandoned on the rocks at Easington Beach, County Durham.
Four in Custody – Three Scots and a Colombian
The arrested include three men from Scotland and one from Colombia. They remain in police custody as investigations continue.
NCA Senior Investigating Officer Alan French said: “This was a significant amount of cocaine and its seizure deals a big blow to the organised crime group that tried to smuggle it into the UK. Without question, these drugs would have been peddled in communities across the country, fuelling crime and exploitation.”
French praised the teamwork between agencies, highlighting the vital role of law enforcement in tackling organised crime and securing UK borders. The NCA vows to keep the pressure on in ongoing probes.
The operation was backed by Humberside Police, the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Organised Crime Unit, and Border Force, all playing key roles in the bust and follow-up investigation.
