£15 Million Cocaine Haul Busted in Banana Container at London Gateway
Border Force officers have smashed a massive cocaine smuggling attempt at London Gateway, uncovering more than £15 million worth of Class A drugs hidden inside a banana container.
Smart Smugglers Foiled by High-Tech Scans
The haul was found on Monday 13 July during a sharp intelligence-led search. The 40ft temperature-controlled container had just arrived from Costa Rica, bound for Germany with a load of bananas.
An X-ray scan spotted something fishy under the container’s floor. When officers checked, they discovered the insulation had been scraped out and replaced with 380kg of pure cocaine — cleverly concealed inside the floor panels. The operation took 19 hours to complete.
Border Force Heroes Praise Their Own Team’s Skill
“Illegal drugs fuel crime and violence across our communities,” said Chris Philp, Minister for Immigration Compliance and the Courts. “This seizure highlights the vital work Border Force do every day to keep the UK safe.”
Border Force Assistant Director Pete Roffey added: “This was a sophisticated hide, rarely seen in the UK. The smugglers cut the floor, removed insulation, packed in the cocaine, then welded it back — leaving little trace of tampering.”
Border Force Using Every Trick in the Book to Stop Smugglers
After the bust, the case was passed to the National Crime Agency. Border Force officers are the UK’s frontline defence against illegal immigration, organised crime, and terrorism threats.
They deploy sniffer dogs, heartbeat monitors, carbon dioxide detectors, scanners, and intensive visual searches to spot stowaways, drugs, firearms, and tobacco shipments that could fuel crime and harm communities.
Got information on smuggling? Speak up now! Call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or visit www.gov.uk/report-smuggling.
