A seven-month investigation into a consignment of drugs concealed in animal feed has led police in the UK to a container of oranges imported from South Africa stuffed with 49kg of cocaine.
More than 230kg of cocaine has been seized and four people arrested in an ongoing investigation by the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit (SWROCU), supported by the metropolitan police, UK border force and other agencies.
“The investigation began in April when a shipping container delivered to a farm near Bridgwater in Somerset containing animal feed was found to contain 189kg of cocaine,” said the SWROCU.
The container had travelled from Columbia to London Gateway Port. About two weeks ago, seven warrants were carried out at properties in West London “which led to four men being arrested and a further 49kg of cocaine being seized from a container of oranges imported from South Africa to the port of Felixstowe”.
One suspect from Southall, Ealing, was charged with conspiring to import class A drugs and remanded in custody. Three other men from West London, aged 31, 51 and 60, were released while the investigation continues.
Paul Fisher from the SWROCU said: “Our investigation has prevented a huge amount of high-purity class A drugs from ending up on our streets, reducing both the threat to communities and the profits of the organised criminals importing and supplying them. The national ROCU network continues to work tirelessly with police forces and law enforcement partners to protect the security and integrity of the UK border.”