British authorities seized 5.7 tons of cocaine from a port in southern England
London, BollywoodFever, February 23: On Friday, British authorities announced the seizure of 5.7 tons of cocaine from a port in southern England, marking what is believed to be the largest-ever confiscation of Class A drugs in the UK.
The substantial haul, valued at approximately £450 million ($570 million) based on UK street prices, was uncovered on February 8th at Southampton Port. Concealed within a shipment of bananas from South America, the illicit drugs were stashed in a container.
The National Crime Agency (NCA) disclosed that the intended destination of the shipment was the Port of Hamburg in Germany. Collaborating with international agencies across Europe, the NCA is actively engaged in identifying the criminal networks responsible.
NCA Director Chris Farrimond asserted that this record-breaking seizure deals a significant blow to international organized crime cartels, thwarting their illicit profit-making endeavors.
Highlighting the detrimental impact of cocaine trafficking, the NCA emphasized the estimated £4 billion annual revenue generated by criminal gangs in the UK alone. This lucrative market is closely linked to pervasive violence throughout its entire supply chain, including incidents involving firearms and knives.
The previous largest seizure of cocaine in the UK occurred in 2022, amounting to 3.7 tons, also at Southampton Port.
Source: Reuters
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