Border officials make massive drugs haul on cruise ship
Border officers have seized drugs worth
an estimated £1.4 million on board a cruise ship.
The haul was made after UK Border Agency officers in Dover
searched the cruise liner MSC Opera.
Inside the ship's cabins border officials uncovered
around 35 kilos of cocaine.
Eight Latvian and Lithuanians were arrested and have
appeared in court charged with drug smuggling.
Seven appeared in Dover Magistrates’ Court on May 22 and the
eighth appeared at Folkestone Magistrates’ Court yesterday.
All eight pleaded not guilty and have been remanded in
custody.
They will next appear at Dover Magistrates’ Court on May 27.
Investigations by UK Border Agency are continuing.
The ship had arrived in Dover on May 21 on its way to
Amsterdam from Brazil.
Ray Payne, Border Force South, assistant director for the UK
Border Agency, said: "UK Border Agency officers operate maximum
vigilance at all our ports and airports to prevent drugs reaching
our streets.
"Drugs like cocaine devastate lives and communities and anyone
with information about activity they suspect may be linked to drug
smuggling should call our hotline on 0800 59 5000."
25/05/10
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