Cocaine Smuggling Operation in Banana Shipment Foiled by UK Authorities
In a significant drug smuggling bust, UK authorities have foiled a gang's attempt to import cocaine worth around two hundred million pounds disguised as bananas from Colombia. The National Crime Agency intercepted the shipment in Portsmouth in February 2021, replacing the drugs with dummy packages. Five men have been convicted, highlighting the gang's use of a legitimate business as a cover for their operation.
A gang has been convicted for attempting to smuggle cocaine worth approximately £200 million into the UK inside bananas from Colombia.
The elaborate plan involved taking over a legitimate business, Agro Food Ltd, to disguise the illegal operation.
The plot was thwarted in February 2021 after UK Border Force and National Crime Agency (NCA) officers intercepted the shipment in Portsmouth.
The culprits, Petko Zhutev, Ghergii Diko, and Bruno Kuci, pleaded guilty, while Erik Muci and Olsi Ebeja were found guilty after a trial.
The gang used Agro Food Ltd as a front, leveraging its established history in importing fruits to evade detection.
Police had been tracking the operation for some time and replaced the cocaine with dummy packages while undercover officers posed as lorry drivers to deliver the consignment to North London.
Around 2,330 blocks of cocaine, each about 1kg and valued at £30,000, were involved in the scheme.
The NCA described this as one of the biggest drug seizures ever in the UK and highlighted the novel method of using a reputable business as cover for drug importation.
The case emphasizes the evolving tactics of drug smuggling operations and the ongoing efforts of the NCA to tackle such criminal activities.
The elaborate plan involved taking over a legitimate business, Agro Food Ltd, to disguise the illegal operation.
The plot was thwarted in February 2021 after UK Border Force and National Crime Agency (NCA) officers intercepted the shipment in Portsmouth.
The culprits, Petko Zhutev, Ghergii Diko, and Bruno Kuci, pleaded guilty, while Erik Muci and Olsi Ebeja were found guilty after a trial.
The gang used Agro Food Ltd as a front, leveraging its established history in importing fruits to evade detection.
Police had been tracking the operation for some time and replaced the cocaine with dummy packages while undercover officers posed as lorry drivers to deliver the consignment to North London.
Around 2,330 blocks of cocaine, each about 1kg and valued at £30,000, were involved in the scheme.
The NCA described this as one of the biggest drug seizures ever in the UK and highlighted the novel method of using a reputable business as cover for drug importation.
The case emphasizes the evolving tactics of drug smuggling operations and the ongoing efforts of the NCA to tackle such criminal activities.
