Authorities confiscate massive 5-ton haul of cocaine valued at $540 million at British shipping terminal

A massive haul of cocaine, weighing around five tonnes and valued at approximately £400 million ($540 million), has been intercepted by British border officials at a major port terminal in London, according to a government announcement made on Saturday.

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The seizure was the result of a series of operations conducted at London Gateway port in February and March, with the largest single discovery being nearly 2,800 packets of cocaine hidden amongst bananas, totaling around three tonnes in weight.

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According to the Home Office, the smugglers had taken elaborate measures to evade detection, including carefully replicating the shape and weight of banana boxes to conceal the drugs within a shipment of fruit in a single container.

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A further significant discovery was made last month, with around £80 million worth of cocaine, weighing one tonne, found in a shipping container transporting South American wine.

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The Home Office, which serves as Britain's interior ministry, reported that Border Force officials seized almost 150 tonnes of illicit drugs in the year ending in March, highlighting the scale of their efforts to combat drug smuggling.