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Border Force seize 260 kilos of cocaine worth £20 million at Channel Tunnel

A quarter of a tonne of cocaine worth £20 million destined for Kent has been seized.

Border Force officers at the Channel Tunnel terminal in Coquelles, France, discovered more than 260 kilos of the drug, pictured, in a lorry which was heading for the UK.

A quarter of a tonne of cocaine, worth £20 million, was stopped from coming into Kent by Border Force officers. Picture: Home Office
A quarter of a tonne of cocaine, worth £20 million, was stopped from coming into Kent by Border Force officers. Picture: Home Office

The seizure happened on Tuesday. Car parts were found inside the trailer with the class A later uncovered in a number of plywood boxes.

Following the bust a Romanian national was arrested on suspicion of importing Class A drugs and the investigation was later passed to the National Crime Agency (NCA) who released him under investigation.

Minister for immigration compliance Chris Philp said: "This seizure has taken millions of pounds worth of cocaine out of the hands of organised criminals and off our streets.

“Drugs are currency for organised gangs and are intrinsically linked to crime, violence and exploitation which is why we will do all we can to stop drug traffickers and bring them to justice.”

Martin Grace, branch commander for NCA Dover said: “We know that international organise crime gangs remain criminally active and despite the restrictions on movement.

Border Force officers seized the drugs from the lorry in Coquelles, France. Picture: National Crime Agency
Border Force officers seized the drugs from the lorry in Coquelles, France. Picture: National Crime Agency

“As a result of joint working between the NCA and our Border Force partners, attempts to smuggle significant quantities of drugs have been thwarted before creating harm to our communities in the UK.”

Anyone with information about activity they suspect may be linked to smuggling should call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or click here.

Read more: All the latest news from Kent

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