Cannabis found in banana truck at port
AROUND �400,000 worth of cannabis has been seized from a vehicle carrying bananas at Harwich Port.
AROUND �400,000 worth of cannabis has been seized from a vehicle carrying bananas at Harwich Port.
The drugs were concealed on a refrigerated trailer which arrived on a boat from Rotterdam at approximately 6pm on Thursday.
The smugglers had hollowed out the “fifth wheel”, the pivot that connects the lorry to the trailer, and concealed two 10ft long steel tubes inside the cavity.
These tubes contained the cannabis.
Marc Owen, Central Region Area Border Force Director for the UK Border Agency, said: “This is a substantial seizure and an excellent result.
“The smugglers had gone to great lengths to try and conceal the drugs, but excellent work by our staff using sophisticated technology resulted in the detection.
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“Drug smugglers are criminals who are only out to make a profit and care nothing for the trail of devastation their illegal trade leaves in its wake.
“We will continue to fight the threat that drug smuggling poses to the UK.”
Mr Owen said a decision had yet to be taken on what will happen to the 23 tonnes of bananas the trailer contained.
However, investigators do not believe the importer was involved in the crime and it is likely the fruit will reach its intended destination.
