DIVERS discovered cocaine worth around £10 million and weighing 137kg found buried inside a ship at a UK port.
Specialist divers discovered the drugs in four large holdalls which were hidden below the water line inside the sea chest, an intake area for sea water.
National Crime AgencyThe drugs were found in four large holdalls which were hidden below the water line[/caption]
National Crime AgencyThe haul was described as extremely rare and sophisticated[/caption]
National Crime AgencyBorder Force National Deep Rummage Team at the scene[/caption]
National Crime AgencySenior officers believe the drugs were bound for Holland[/caption]
The Metropolitan Police Dive Unit took five hours to recover the drugs, which were behind bolted-up grills below the water line.
The divers were assisted by Border Force National Deep Rummage Team. The cocaine is likely to have had a UK street value in excess of £10 million once cut and sold.
The rare find was one of only two underwater hauls of class A drugs of its kind ever discovered in the UK, the last being at Bristol in November 2021 when 46 kilos of cocaine was detected.
The drugs were found on a Panamanian-registered ship carrying a load of bananas. Senior officers believe they were bound for Holland.
NCA Operations Manager David Phillips said: “This was an extremely rare and sophisticated concealment, and shows how far criminal networks will go to get dangerous drugs like cocaine into circulation.
“The sale of such class A drugs is controlled by gangs who inflict violence and exploitation in our communities.
“I’d like to thank the Metropolitan Police’s Diving Team, who worked in challenging conditions to recover the drugs, assisted by our colleagues in Border Force.
“Such collaboration shows our collective determination to tackle organised criminal groups head on, and stem the supply of harmful drugs like cocaine.”
Stephen Whitton, Deputy Director of Border Force Maritime Command, said:“The combined efforts of the NCA, the Met Police, and Border Force, have prevented £10 million worth of cocaine from plaguing our streets and countries nearby.
“Border Force remain committed to working round the clock to intercept drug supply chains and will continue work closely with our counterparts to identify and prevent the new methods criminals take to smuggling illegal drugs, in or out of the UK.”
A Met Police spokesperson said: “Our diving operations team were conducting an underwater search of the ship’s hull. This required detailed planning and partnership working to ensure this was a controlled, safe and effective diving operation.
“All of the teams worked collaboratively to manage the risks which included reduced visibility, tidal movements and depth of the water. All of those risks and more demonstrate the difficult working environment in which the teams were operating.
“As the divers emerged from the water our teams made efforts to conceal and secure the Class A drugs. However with great teamwork and physical effort from all teams we were able to stop a large quantity of Class A drugs from reaching their intended destination.”
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