Felixstowe drug seizure: Nine men arrested by National Crime Agency

Members of a suspected organised crime gang have been arrested on suspicion of trying to smuggle cocaine into the UK.

A 1.3-tonne (1,300kg) consignment of the Class A drug was discovered in a shipping container at the Port of Felixstowe in Suffolk in August 2022.

Richie Davies, National Crime Agency (NCA) branch commander, said the haul had an estimated street value of £140m.

NCA officers have arrested nine men in connection with the seizure, as part of an ongoing investigation.

The contraband, which arrived from Sierra Leone, was hidden in large blue sacks and marked as flour to be delivered to an industrial estate in Wigan, Lancashire.

Four suspects have been arrested in Merseyside - two at properties in Bootle, one in Crosby and one in Birkenhead.

Another four men were arrested at properties in Chorley, Lancashire, while a serving prisoner was also arrested.

The suspects allegedly had various roles within the conspiracy, from orchestrating the importation to organising premises and logistics, but six of the suspects are said to be directly linked to the seizure.

The men, in their 40s, 50s and 60s, were due to be interviewed.

Mr Davies said: "There is no doubt these drugs would have been sold on into communities across the UK fuelling violence, exploitation and misery.

"Since the seizure of the drugs, the agency has been working intensely to identify and pursue those responsible."

Five suspects were previously arrested in 2022 over the importation but were later released under investigation. Three of those suspects were rearrested on 29 November.

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