Border Force officers uncovered 2.9 tonnes of cocaine, worth an estimated £232m on the street, concealed within a large banana shipment from South America. The drugs arrived at London Gateway Port in Thurrock, Essex, on Thursday, and nine men were later arrested after the consignment was tracked to an address near Buntingford, Hertfordshire. All nine have since been released on bail while investigations continue.
According to officials, the operation began after the National Crime Agency alerted Border Force to the suspicious shipment. Officers allowed the container to be moved from the port so they could observe its destination, ultimately swooping on the property in Hertfordshire once the drugs had been unloaded there.
How significant is this seizure?
Officials have described the bust as a major blow to the criminal network responsible for importing the drugs. Senior investigating officer Dave Phillips said the operation had stripped the group of substantial illicit earnings.
This is a very significant seizure which has deprived the organised crime group behind it of huge profits. That is money that cannot be ploughed back into further crime.
The National Crime Agency went further, calling the seizure "exceptionally important" and stating that it had prevented the organised crime group from reaping substantial profits from the shipment.
What happened to those arrested?
The nine men detained in connection with the case were released on bail pending further inquiries, meaning no charges have yet been brought as investigators continue to examine the evidence gathered from both the shipment and the Hertfordshire property.
How does this compare with other recent drug busts?
The banana shipment seizure sits within a wider pattern of large-scale drug interceptions in recent months. In May 2026, a £1m cocaine seizure in Dungannon led to a single arrest and also uncovered indecent images of children linked to organised crime. The following month, authorities in south Wales made a £139m cannabis seizure after 12 tonnes of the drug, imported from Canada, were intercepted en route to Southampton Port.
What happens next?
Investigators say the inquiry into the origins of the shipment and the roles of the nine bailed suspects remains ongoing, with authorities expected to continue examining the wider distribution network believed to be behind the smuggling attempt.
