Cocaine worth £136m found among bananas

The biggest shipment of cocaine for the last two years has been caught in the Hampshire, UK

. Border Force officers together with the National Crime Agency found 850kg 80% pure drugs

 with an estimated value of £136m if sold on the street.

The massive shipment was found onboard MV Crown Jade, a Panamanian vessel, hidden 

between bananas cargo. The ship was sailing from Colombia and according to an officer from

 the NCA's border policing command, Tom Dowdall, this was a ''major blow''.



The biggest shipment of cocaine for the last two years has been caught in the Hampshire, UK.

 Border Force officers together with the National Crime Agency found 850kg 80% pure drugs

 with an estimated value of £136m if sold on the street.

The massive shipment was found onboard MV Crown Jade, a Panamanian vessel, hidden 

between bananas cargo. The ship was sailing from Colombia and according to an officer from 

the NCA's border policing command, Tom Dowdall, this was a ''major blow''.

Tom Dowdall commented the story:

''It would have been cut several times before being sold, so the amount found here could have 

ended up as several tonnes at street level.''

Mark Harper, Immigration Minister, stated:

'I congratulate the Border Force and NCA officers involved in stopping such a huge amount of 

drugs entering the UK and ending up on our streets. This joint operation is an example of the 

intelligence-led, co-ordinated action being taken to protect our border and target the organised

 criminals behind drug and people trafficking.''

After the end of the operation the Panamanian vessel, MV Crown Jade, was freed to go. Her 

destination is the Antwerp port in Belgium.