Border Force officers at Southampton Port seized more than £160 million of drugs in roughly a month, including three major cocaine finds (477 kg, 530 kg and ~960 kg) and a 290 kg cannabis shipment hidden in hardwood flooring. The combined total of recent seizures highlights intensified efforts to disrupt organised crime. For the year to March 2025, Border Force reported 150 tonnes seized, valued at £2.6 billion — a 40% rise year-on-year.
More Than £160 Million Of Cocaine And Cannabis Seized At Southampton Port In One Month
FILE PHOTO: Cocaine pictured during a press conference at the Customs Criminal Investigation Office (ZKA) in Cologne. (is associated with: «More than £160 million worth of cocaine and cannabis seized at UK port») Rolf Vennenbernd/dpa
Border Force officers at Southampton Port intercepted more than £160 million of illegal drugs across several large seizures within roughly a month, authorities said. The finds — three major cocaine hauls and a separate cannabis shipment — underline an intensifying effort to disrupt organised criminal supply chains into the UK.
Seizures And Timeline
On 28 June, officers discovered 477 kg of cocaine hidden among pallets of bananas inside a shipping container, with an estimated street value of £38 million. Later that same day a second container produced a further 530 kg of cocaine, valued at around £47 million, officials confirmed.
On 10 July, Border Force teams uncovered about 960 kg of cocaine — an estimated £76 million in street value. Just days after that seizure, officers found a separate shipment of hardwood flooring that concealed 290 kg of cannabis, valued at approximately £1.2 million.
Wider Context
For the year ending March 2025, Border Force recorded seizures totalling 150 tonnes of illegal drugs with a combined street value of £2.6 billion — a 40% increase on the previous year and the highest annual total since records began.
Home Office Minister Jo White said: "We are one step ahead of these vile criminal gangs. Border Force has cost them tens of millions in under a month. These drugs fuel further offending, destroy lives and inflict misery on our communities. We will continue our relentless action to hit supply chains, protect the public and secure our borders."
Lyn Sari, Head of Border Force South Region, added: "Every seizure we make is a setback for organised crime. I would like to thank our dedicated officers, who work around the clock to prevent these drugs from reaching our streets and causing immense harms. Border Force is working ever more closely with law enforcement partners in the UK and overseas to combat drug smuggling."
The Border Force said the operations reflect closer cooperation with domestic and international law enforcement partners and improved targeting at ports. Investigations into the individual consignments are ongoing.
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