Law enforcement dealt a crushing blow to drug traffickers at London Gateway port near Thurrock, Essex. In a major haul, officers seized a staggering 536kg of cocaine worth over £53 million. The takedown came on Friday, 13 February, thanks to a joint operation by the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Organised Crime Unit (YHROCU) and the UK Border Force.
Man Arrested in £53m Cocaine Bust
A 44-year-old man from Goole was arrested in Manchester over the massive cocaine seizure. He now faces conspiracy charges to import Class A drugs. But that’s not all — he is also charged with plotting to import 872kg of cannabis in a separate case from November 2025.
The suspect appeared before magistrates in Leeds today and was remanded in custody ahead of a Crown Court hearing set for March.
Police Praise Team Effort and Send Warning to Dealers
Ramona Senior, head of YHROCU, said: “By working in partnership with the UK Border Force, we have made a significant disruption to the supply of harmful drugs coming into Yorkshire and the Humber.”
This landmark bust sends a strong message: UK law enforcement is cracking down hard on drug crime and won’t let traffickers operate with impunity.
