In a significant blow to organised crime, National Crime Agency (NCA) officers arrested four men on suspicion of conspiracy to import Class A drugs, after the seizure of approximately 500 kilograms of cocaine in Humberside.
The suspects were detained around 8:30 am on 4th May in Lelley, Humberside, following a coordinated operation between the NCA, Humberside Police, the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Organised Crime Unit, and Border Force. This collaborative effort led to the discovery of a Vauxhall Vivaro van parked at the Stags Head Inn, containing a massive haul of cocaine with an estimated street value of £40 million.
It is believed that the drugs had been transferred from a larger vessel off the Hull coast to the van via a rigid-hulled inflatable boat (RHIB). The smaller boat was later discovered abandoned on rocks at Easington Beach, raising suspicions of an attempted smuggling operation gone awry.
The four men, now under investigation by the NCA, include a 22-year-old from Argyll, a 32-year-old from Oban, a 24-year-old from Campbeltown, and a 39-year-old Colombian national. They remain in custody and are currently being questioned by NCA investigators.
Alan French, NCA Senior Investigating Officer, emphasised the significance of this seizure, stating, “This was a significant amount of cocaine and its seizure will be a sizeable blow to the organised crime group which attempted to smuggle it into the UK. There’s no doubt these drugs would have been sold into communities around the UK, fuelling further crime and exploitation.”
The NCA’s operation reflects the agency’s commitment to disrupting criminal activity and protecting the UK’s borders. French added, “Working with our law enforcement partners, we are determined to do all we can to disrupt criminal activity and protect the UK’s border security. Our investigation continues following these arrests.”
This seizure follows a series of successful operations by the NCA and their partners, as they continue to combat the importation of illegal drugs into the UK. The collaboration between different agencies is crucial in addressing the smuggling networks that attempt to circumvent the nation’s border security.
The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are working to uncover further details surrounding the attempted smuggling operation. The NCA remains vigilant, calling upon the public to assist in the fight against organised crime by reporting any suspicious activity.
