Two men have been arrested in Leicestershire after the discovery of a £120 million cocaine haul hidden in sacks of charcoal.
The National Crime Agency (NCA) said around 1.6 tonnes of cocaine were found on June 8 when Border Force officers searched a container carrying 800 sacks of charcoal.
It was on ship, travelling from Panama, that had arrived into London Gateway.
Officers from the NCA’s Armed Operations Unit, along with armed units from Leicestershire Police, carried out a controlled delivery and raided two farm properties in Whitwick, Coalville, and Shepshed, on Thursday.
Suspects, including a 50-year-old from Coalville and a 31-year-old from Nottingham, were arrested at a location in Coalville town centre. They are being questioned on suspicion of importing class A drugs.
Forensic examinations are being carried out on two self-loading pistols and a self-loading rifle which were recovered at an address in Coalville, according to the NCA who said that searches are still being carried out.
The NCA, who was working with Border Force officers, believes it is the first time it has faced suspects who have tried to hide cocaine in this way.
The drugs would have had a street-level value of more than £120 million, they estimate.
Claudia Johnstone, Border Force Thames Command assistant director, said: “With thanks to the joint efforts of the NCA, Leicestershire Police and Border Force, over £120 million worth of cocaine has been prevented from plaguing UK streets.”
“We remain committed to working round the clock to intercept drug supply chains and will continue to work closely with our counterparts to identify and prevent the new methods criminals take to smuggling illegal drugs.”
Jacque Beer, NCA regional head of operations, said: “This operation has prevented a huge amount of cocaine from making it on to the streets, where it would have generated criminal profit and fuelled further violence and exploitation.
“I’m grateful to Border Force, Leicestershire Police and partners from the Leicestershire Fire & Rescue Service and East Midlands Ambulance Service for the support they have provided to our ongoing operation and investigation.”
