Record-breaking Cocaine Bust: £450m Seized from Banana Shipments

British authorities discovered a record-breaking 5.7 tons of cocaine, worth an estimated $568 million, hidden in a shipment of bananas at the port of Southampton, shattering the country's previous drug-seizure record. The National Crime Agency believes the drugs were destined for Hamburg, Germany, and would have likely made their way back to the U.K. criminal market. The agency is working with international partners to identify the criminal networks involved, as the U.K.'s cocaine market has seen a significant rise in associated violence in recent years. This seizure comes amid a trend of record amounts of cocaine being seized in Europe, with Colombia producing about 60% of the world's cocaine.
- U.K. police find $568 million of cocaine hidden in bananas, shattering drug-seizure record CBS News
- UK police seize record cocaine shipment bound for Hamburg DW (English)
- Cocaine worth £450m found in cargo of bananas at Southampton Port BBC.com
- Cocaine haul worth £450m found hidden in banana shipment in largest-ever class A drugs bust Sky News
- Authorities in biggest ever cocaine bust as £450 MILLION of drugs seized GB News
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