08/01/2004

UK-led customs sting nets £80m cocaine haul

A tonne of cocaine with a street value of £80 million has been seized following a major UK-led international law enforcement operation in Accra, Ghana.

During the six-month operation, four British men and one German were arrested, as well as two Ghanaian nationals.

Acting on intelligence from UK Customs, and with co-operation from the Spanish National Police, officers from the Ghanaian Narcotics Control Board raided the villa and found cocaine in a specially constructed concealment within the house.

Intelligence shows that this massive £80 million drugs haul was destined to be shipped to Europe and then on to the UK.

HM Customs Minister and Economic Secretary to the Treasury, John Healey said: "This huge cocaine haul demonstrates the importance of UK Customs working internationally to combat modern crime.

"A sophisticated, international gang has been dismantled and a large shipment of cocaine has been prevented from causing harm on our streets.

"Our priority is to continue to combat the drugs trade through intelligence-led operations like this."

This latest success follows a £40 million seizure of cocaine on December 17 in the Azores, after a multi-agency operation with British, Antiguan, Spanish and Portuguese authorities. Two men were arrested.

(gmcg)

Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

28 May 2012
Brit Woman Arrested After Smuggling Cocaine
A British woman has been arrested in Bali for allegedly smuggling cocaine, believed to be worth £1.6m, in her suitcase. Lindsay Sandford faces a maximum death penalty if found guilty. The 55-year-old covered her face as she was brought out to the media at a press conference in Kuta.
02 October 2015
Man Jailed Over False Kidnap Claim
A man who claimed to have been kidnapped and demanded a ransom from his partner to secure his release has been jailed. Police were contacted by the distressed partner of Paresh Savji Devraj, who reported that he had been kidnapped and that he would be beaten and killed if she didn't pay £1,000.
15 May 2015
New Test Developed To Detect Cocaine Use Through A Fingerprint
A new test has been developed that can detect cocaine use through a fingerprint, according to research published in the journal Analyst.
03 July 2007
Doherty pleads guilty to drugs charges
Babyshambles frontman Pete Doherty had pleaded guilty to possession of drugs after arriving more than two hours late at a court appearance in London. An arrest warrant had been issued for the 28-year-old singer earlier on Tuesday after he failed to turn up at 9:30am for a hearing at West London Magistrates' Court.
13 March 2008
Woman Charged Over 'Kids With Drugs'
A Mexican woman has been charged with drug smuggling after customs officers at Heathrow allegedly found 15 kilos of cocaine strapped to the legs of two children. Elisa Vazquez Sanchez, 40, was arrested following the discovery of the drugs during a search at Terminal 4 at the airport on Tuesday.