Cocaine seized from cargo vessel at Dover

Border Force seized approximately 40 kilos of cocaine from a cargo ship at Dover on Wednesday last week (30 July 2014).

The drugs, once cut and sold on the streets, have a potential value running into millions of pounds.

Officers from Border Force's Felixstowe based national deep rummage team searched the MV Esmeralda and discovered the drugs in the hold. The ship was en route from South America to Rotterdam loaded with bananas.

There were no arrests and the ship was allowed to continue its journey.

The investigation was passed to the National Crime Agency and enquiries are continuing.

Paul Morgan, director of Border Force South East and Europe said: "This seizure has prevented a large amount of cocaine from reaching the streets of Europe.

"Border Force officers use a variety of methods and technology to prevent class A drugs entering the UK, and their expertise is regularly demonstrated by seizures like this.

"Working with the NCA and other agencies we are determined to bring to justice those involved in this illicit trade - from the individual smugglers up to the organised criminals at the top of the tree."