West Yorkshire Police seized 500kg of ketamine — an estimated £10m haul — at a property in Upton, Pontefract, believed to be the UK’s second-largest ketamine find.
Officers recovered the drugs packed in 20 bin bags during an operation led by the Regional Organised Crime Unit. Three men have been charged and are due at Leeds Magistrates' Court.
Authorities warn that recreational misuse of ketamine can cause severe health issues, including lasting bladder damage.
Three men have been charged after police recovered what is believed to be the UK’s second-largest seizure of ketamine — 500kg (1,102lb) of the drug, with an estimated street value of around £10m.
West Yorkshire Police said officers found the ketamine packed into 20 black bin bags at a property on Rose Avenue in the Upton area of Pontefract. The operation was led by the Regional Organised Crime Unit.
Three men have been charged in connection with the find and are due to appear at Leeds Magistrates' Court:
Police said the haul is thought to be the second-largest ketamine seizure in the UK; a larger discovery in Merseyside in 2025 was estimated at about £17m. Ketamine is commonly used as a veterinary anaesthetic for horses but is also misused recreationally. When abused, it can cause serious health problems, including permanent bladder damage that may require lifelong treatment.
The investigation remains ongoing as officers work to establish the supply chain and any wider links to organised crime.
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