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| UK Border Forces find £50 million-worth of cocaine at small Hampshire airport on private jet from Colombia | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Five men have been arrested after half a tonne of cocaine worth more than £50 million was discovered in a private jet. | Five men have been arrested after half a tonne of cocaine worth more than £50 million was discovered in a private jet. |
| In what is believed to be one of the largest recent seizures of its kind, Border Force officers found around 500kg of the Class A drug after searching an aircraft that flew into the UK from Bogota in Colombia on Monday. | In what is believed to be one of the largest recent seizures of its kind, Border Force officers found around 500kg of the Class A drug after searching an aircraft that flew into the UK from Bogota in Colombia on Monday. |
| Two Britons, two Spaniards and an Italian were arrested on suspicion of importing Class A drugs after the twin-engined jet landed at Farnborough Airport in Hampshire. | Two Britons, two Spaniards and an Italian were arrested on suspicion of importing Class A drugs after the twin-engined jet landed at Farnborough Airport in Hampshire. |
| The Border Force said that the drug was hidden in 15 suitcases that were found on board. | The Border Force said that the drug was hidden in 15 suitcases that were found on board. |
| Border Force Deputy Chief Operating Officer Mike Stepney said: “After meeting the flight and questioning those on board, officers became suspicious and searched the aircraft and their luggage. | Border Force Deputy Chief Operating Officer Mike Stepney said: “After meeting the flight and questioning those on board, officers became suspicious and searched the aircraft and their luggage. |
| “When opened, each case was found to contain between 34 to 37 tape wrapped packages weighing approximately one kilo each. | “When opened, each case was found to contain between 34 to 37 tape wrapped packages weighing approximately one kilo each. |
| “One of these was pierced and a white powder exposed which tested positive for cocaine.” | “One of these was pierced and a white powder exposed which tested positive for cocaine.” |
| Three properties in Bournemouth, Dorset, were also searched by the National Crime Agency (NCA) as part of the investigation, and computers and phones taken away for examination. | Three properties in Bournemouth, Dorset, were also searched by the National Crime Agency (NCA) as part of the investigation, and computers and phones taken away for examination. |
| NCA operations manager Siobhan Micklethwaite said: “This is a major seizure of cocaine, one of the largest flown into the UK by plane in many years, and this seizure by Border Force represents a major blow to organised crime. | NCA operations manager Siobhan Micklethwaite said: “This is a major seizure of cocaine, one of the largest flown into the UK by plane in many years, and this seizure by Border Force represents a major blow to organised crime. |
| “We estimate that once cut and sold on the streets in the UK it would have had a potential value in excess of £50 million.” | “We estimate that once cut and sold on the streets in the UK it would have had a potential value in excess of £50 million.” |
| The aircraft crew were questioned before being released without charge. | The aircraft crew were questioned before being released without charge. |
| PA | PA |