Arrests after West farm drugs raid

MORE than 230 kilos (500lbs) of cocaine have been seized and four people arrested after a huge quantity of the class A drug was alleged to have been found among animal feed at a Somerset farm.

The investigation began in April when a shipping container delivered to a farm near Bridgwater containing animal feed was found to also contain 189 kilos (416lbs) of cocaine. The container had travelled from Columbia to London Gateway Port.

The investigation by the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit was supported by the Metropolitan Police Service, UK Border Force, HMRC and the NCA.

Last week, seven warrants were carried out at properties in West London, which led to four men being arrested and a further 49 kilos of cocaine being seized from a container of oranges imported from South Africa to the Port of Felixstowe.

One man from Southall, Ealing, has been charged with conspiring to import class A drugs and is remanded in custody. Three other men from West London, aged 31, 51 and 60, have been released while the investigation continues.

DCI Paul Fisher from the SWROCU said: “Our investigation has prevented a huge amount of high purity class A drugs from ending up on our streets, reducing both the threat to communities and the profits of the organised criminals importing and supplying them.

“The national ROCU network continues to work tirelessly with police forces and law enforcement partners to protect the security and integrity of the UK border.”