Cocaine worth £4m seized from boat carrying fruit juice

Around 46kg of the Class A was recovered from what investigators believe was a specially adapted hide attached to the hull of the vessel.

The boat, which was carrying a load of fruit juice, had sailed from Santos in Brazil and was due to continue on to the Netherlands.

The seizure followed a joint operation involving specialist National Crime Agency (NCA) search officers, Border Force and divers from Avon and Somerset Constabulary.

If cut and sold in the UK, the NCA said the haul would have had an estimated street value in excess of £4 million.

NCA branch operations manager Dean Wallbank said: “While we don’t believe the entire load was destined for the UK initially, it is likely that at least some of it would have ended up back here in the hands of criminal gangs, being sold on UK streets.”

He added: “Disrupting the international networks involved in drug trafficking is a priority for the NCA, and I’m grateful for the assistance provided by partners in Border Force and Avon and Somerset Constabulary on this operation, as well as those overseas.

“Making this seizure has prevented them from profiting further and re-investing in further criminality.”

Inspector Will Barlow from Avon and Somerset Constabulary said: “We are pleased that our experienced dive team were able to play a significant role in recovering a large quantity of suspected Class A drugs.

“The officers involved reported facing extremely challenging conditions during this operation, in particular very poor visibility.

“We are all acutely aware of the damage cocaine and other illegal substances can have on our communities and we are delighted to have been able to support the NCA and Border Force with their investigation and stop harmful drugs from making their way on to our streets.”

The NCA said an international investigation into the source and intended destination for the drugs is now underway, involving partners in Brazil and the Netherlands.