News / Crime
£4m worth of cocaine seized at Avonmouth Docks
Cocaine with an estimated value of £4m has been seized from a boat at Avonmouth Docks.
Officers searched the vessel, which was carrying a load of fruit juice, and found 46 kilos of the class A drugs stashed in what investigators believe was a specially adapted hide attached to the hull.
The cocaine was seized as part of a joint operation involving the National Crime Agency (NCA), Border Force and Avon & Somerset Police.
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The vessel was en route to the Netherlands from Santos in Brazil before it was intercepted at Avonmouth and officers say the drugs were likely to have ended up back on the streets of the UK.
NCA branch operations manager Dean Wallbank said: “Disrupting the international networks involved in drug trafficking is a priority for the NCA, and I’m grateful for the assistance provided by partners in Border Force and Avon & Somerset Police on this operation, as well as those overseas.
“While we don’t believe the entire load was destined for the UK initially, it is likely that at least some of it would have ended up back here in the hands of UK criminal gangs, being sold on UK streets.
“Making this seizure has prevented them from profiting further and re-investing in further criminality.”
Cocaine with an estimated value of £4m has been seized from a vessel at Avonmouth Docks
The haul of class A drugs was seized from a boat carrying fruit juice
If cut and sold in the UK, the haul would have had an estimated street value in excess of £4m, according to the NCA.
An international investigation into the source and intended destination for the drugs is now underway.
Inspector Will Barlow from Avon & Somerset Police added: “We are pleased that our experienced dive team were able to play a significant role in recovering a large quantity of class A drugs.
“The officers involved reported facing extremely challenging conditions during this operation, in particular very poor visibility.
“We are all acutely aware of the damage cocaine and other illegal substances can have on our communities and we are delighted to have been able to support the National Crime Agency and Border Force with their investigation and stop harmful drugs from making their way on to our streets.”
Police divers helped recover the stash from an unnamed boat at Avonmouth Docks
All photos courtesy of the National Crime Agency
Read more: One dead and 20 hospitalised from lethal batch of drugs circulating in Bristol
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