Oranges from South Africa found with 49kg cocaine

An investigation into a shipment of drugs concealed in animal feed, which began seven months ago, led British police to a container of oranges imported from South Africa containing 49kg of cocaine.

Over 230kg of cocaine has been seized so far and four people arrested in an ongoing investigation by the South West Regional Organized Crime Unit (SWROCU), with support from the Metropolitan Police, British Border Guards and other authorities.

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“The investigation began in April when a shipping container delivered to a farm near Bridgwater in Somerset containing animal feed was found to contain 189kg of cocaine,” said the SWROCU.

The container had travelled from Columbia to London Gateway Port.

Seven warrants were carried out at properties in West London about two weeks ago,  “which led to four men being arrested and a further 49kg of cocaine being seized from a container of oranges imported from South Africa to the port of Felixstowe”.

A Southall suspect, Ealing, has been charged with conspiracy to import Class A drugs and has been remanded in custody. Three other west London men aged 31, 51 and 60 have been released while the investigation continues.

Paul Fisher from the SWROCU said: “Our investigation has prevented a huge amount of high-purity class A drugs from ending up on our streets, reducing both the threat to communities and the profits of the organised criminals importing and supplying them. The national ROCU network continues to work tirelessly with police forces and law enforcement partners to protect the security and integrity of the UK border.”

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