£200m cocaine haul seized at London Gateway Port
Nine men arrested after Border Force finds 2.9 tonnes hidden in banana boxes from South America
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Border Force officers discovered 2.9 tonnes of cocaine at London Gateway Port in Essex on 6 August 2026. The National Crime Agency reported the drugs were concealed in banana boxes shipped from South America. The haul was valued at more than £200 million.
Nine men were arrested in connection with the seizure. All were later released on bail while investigations continue, the NCA confirmed. No charges have been filed at this stage.
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How the seizure affects London
London Gateway Port, located in Thurrock, Essex, serves as a key entry point for goods bound for London and the wider South East. The NCA said the cocaine would likely have been distributed across the capital and beyond if not intercepted.
Dave Phillips, senior investigating officer at the NCA, said the seizure had deprived organised crime groups of profits that would otherwise fund further illegal activity. He added, "Class A drugs wreck lives, they are toxic and can devastate our communities."
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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.
Dave Phillips, senior investigating officer, National Crime Agency
Record seizures in recent years
The 2026 seizure follows a pattern of large-scale cocaine interceptions by UK authorities. In February 2024, the NCA and Border Force uncovered almost six tonnes of cocaine at Southampton Port, also hidden in banana shipments. That remains the largest single seizure of class A drugs in UK history.
What happens next
The nine men arrested remain on bail while the NCA and Border Force continue their investigation. The cocaine has been removed from circulation and will be destroyed, the NCA said. No further details on potential distribution networks or intended buyers have been released.
The NCA reiterated its commitment to working with international partners to disrupt drug trafficking at source. Phillips said the agency would continue to target organised crime groups both in the UK and abroad.
Questions this report answers
+How much cocaine was seized at London Gateway Port?
Border Force officers seized 2.9 tonnes of cocaine at London Gateway Port on 6 August 2026. The haul was valued at more than £200 million and was hidden in banana boxes shipped from South America.
+What happens to the nine men arrested?
Nine men were arrested in connection with the seizure and later released on bail. The National Crime Agency said investigations are ongoing, and no charges have been filed at this stage.
+Where was the cocaine heading after London Gateway Port?
The National Crime Agency said the cocaine was likely destined for distribution across London and the South East. London Gateway Port serves as a major entry point for goods bound for the capital.
+How does this seizure compare to previous ones?
The 2.9-tonne seizure is one of the largest in recent years, though smaller than the almost six tonnes found at Southampton Port in February 2024. In summer 2025, UK authorities intercepted over £1 billion worth of cocaine.
News London Desk
This article was written at the News London news desk from the reporting of the outlets listed below it. Drafting is done by a language model under human editorial supervision — there is no reporter behind this byline, and we would rather say so than invent one.
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