A POLICE and Border Force operation has stopped almost three tonnes of cocaine - worth £232 million - imported through a Thurrock port being distributed for sale

The huge seizure was made last Thursday (6 August) at London Gateway Port near Corringham as part of a National Crime Agency investigation.

Acting on NCA intelligence, Border Force officers recovered the 2.9 tonne consignment which was hidden in a coverload of bananas from South America.

The drugs were removed and the container allowed to be collected and later delivered to a location near Buntingford, Hertfordshire.

Nine men were arrested and later released on bail.

The drugs were hidden in a container behind bananas.

NCA senior investigating officer Dave Phillips said: "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.

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"Class A drugs wreck lives, they are toxic and can devastate our communities.

Some of the seized cocaine

"The NCA will continue to combat the threat of Class A drugs with partners at home, such as Border Force, and further upstream in source and transit countries."