The detection was made on Monday (13 July) during an intelligence led search of a 40ft, temperature controlled container that had been shipped from Costa Rica and was carrying a load of bananas. The container was in transit to Germany.
An initial X-Ray scan of the container identified an anomaly within the floor. When officers conducted a physical examination they found that the floor cavity, which would normally be packed with insulation had instead been filled with blocks of cocaine. A total of 380kg of the Class A drug, with an estimated street value of £15.2 million was ultimately recovered in an operation that took 19 hours to complete.
Following the Border Force detection, the seizure was referred to the National Crime Agency.
Border Force officers are the front line in protecting the country and play a key role in detecting illegal immigration, disrupting serious and organised crime and helping to prevent the threat of terrorism. Border Force also protects the UK’s revenue, contributing to the nation’s prosperity and growth.
They use an array of search techniques including sniffer dogs, carbon dioxide detectors, heartbeat monitors and scanners – as well as visual searches – to find well-hidden stowaways, illegal drugs, firearms and tobacco which would otherwise end up causing harm to local people, businesses and communities.