Heroin worth £2.5m and 100,000 pints of beer seized in crackdown on smuggling and terrorism

 
Arrest: A man is handcuffed in Harwich during the operation (Picture: Met Police)
Met Police
Ramzy Alwakeel12 June 2015
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A massive shipment of heroin worth £2.5 million and 100,000 pints of "smuggled" beer have been seized on their way in to Britain during a police crackdown on organised crime.

The week-long operation also saw detectives confiscate £500,000 they believe was linked to criminal enterprise - £45,000 of it found on men arriving at Heathrow Airport and St Pancras station from overseas.

As well as briefing staff at ports and stations on how to spot potential crooks, police forces worked on tip-offs to blow the cover of people working for organised crime rings and terrorist outfits.

They, along with HMRC, Border Force and the National Crime Agency, went into the week on a drive to seize cash, weapons, drugs, goods and people being trafficked through British ports and stations linked to crime.

And the NCA Border Policing Command's deputy director Tom Dowdall said it was "essential" that people working in and travelling through ports and airports report anything they see that is "slightly unusual".

Search: Officers raid a HGV (Picture: Met Police)
Met Police

"It could be the piece of information that helps prevent the misery brought by drugs, weapons and human trafficking from reaching Britain's streets," he said.

Sniffer dogs found the 50kg of heroin in a lorry at the port of Harwich, Essex. A man has been charged in connection with the discovery.

Three HGVs carrying about more than 100,000 litres of beer and the equivalent of 10,000 bottles of wine were also seized in Dover. Border Force investigators believe they represent up to £75,000 in lost excise duty.

Drugs: 50kg heroin was found concealed behind a panel in the driver's cab (Picture: Met Police)
Met Police

National Police Lead for Counter Terrorism, Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley, said: "Everyone has a role to play in defeating terrorism. Those working at ports and involved in ports and travel industries can play an important part in helping to protect the whole of the UK from these threats."

Eleven people have so far been arrested during the operation and about 1,000 vehicles and 300 ships searched.

Border Force Director General, Sir Charles Montgomery, added: "This week’s successful activity demonstrates the vital work Border Force officers are doing on the front line every day to protect our national security by identifying and disrupting organised crime gangs and individuals with links to terrorism."

Richard Las of HMRC hailed the week as a "major success".

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