Cocaine worth £256m found hidden in banana boxes in major crackdown

Cocaine worth £256m found hidden in banana boxes in major crackdownOne Border Force police search found three tones of cocaine disguised as banana boxes in a shipping container, with a estimated street value of a massive £256 millionCommentsNewsAlexander Brown Assistant Political Editor16:26, 11 Apr 2026Updated 16:28, 11 Apr 2026View 2 ImagesOfficers carried out major operations in February and March at London Gateway port(Image: HOME OFFICE)More than £400 million of cocaine has been seized at the UK border in under a month.‌Officers carried out major operations in February and March at London Gateway port, which included the sixth‑largest cocaine seizure on record.‌The mammoth three tonne haul – heavier than an adult rhino – was discovered disguised as banana boxes in a shipping container, and has an estimated street value is £256 million.‌READ MORE: Drug dealer brought down after 'Turkey teeth' selfie led to arrestREAD MORE: Whiskey boss's nightmare as £2million egg is snatched from bag left on pub floorView 2 ImagesAnother seizure found cocaine hidden in boxes claiming to carry wine(Image: HOME OFFICE)Elite Border Security Command Maritime officers intercepted the shipment from Panama bound for the Netherlands on February 27 2026. The smugglers had tried to replicate the exact shape and weight of banana boxes to conceal the drugs inside, among fruit in a single shipping container. High-tech scanners saw through the ruse, with officers discovering almost 2,800 packages of cocaine — making it one of the largest cocaine seizures on record.‌Meanwhile on March 24, cocaine worth an estimated £80 million was seized from a shipping container carrying South American wine. Combined with further seizures in March, it means around five tonnes were detected at London Gateway port in just under a month, with an estimated street value surpassing £400 million.Minister for Migration and Citizenship Mike Tapp said: “Thanks to the excellent work of our dedicated Bord...