September 10, 2018 11.02 am This story is over 65 months old

Drugs with £27m street value seized from veg lorry

A Romanian National has been released under investigation

Around 400kg of cocaine and heroin, with a potential street value of £27 million, was found concealed within a lorry load of onions and tomatoes at a Sea Port in Killingholme.

A Romanian national was arrested after a National Crime Agency-led operation, which was supported by Border Force and Humberside Police.

The unaccompanied lorry arrived from the Hook of Holland on the morning of Wednesday, September 5.

The drugs were found after the operation at a Killingholme sea port. Photo: National Crime Agency

The 45-year-old came to drive the lorry away before being arrested the same day on suspicion of conspiring to import class A drugs.

He has subsequently been released under investigation.

NCA Branch Commander Jayne Lloyd said: “The seizure of this significant amount of controlled drugs supports our mission to protect the public from harm.

“We will continue to work with law enforcement partners to detect and disrupt criminal activity.”

Director of Border Force North, Liz Versi, added: “This was a substantial seizure and demonstrates the vital work Border Force officers are doing to take Class A drugs out of circulation.

“Working with law enforcement partners, like the NCA, we are determined to prevent drugs from being brought into the country and causing harm to our communities.”