Border Force uncovers £72 million cocaine haul hidden inside industrial generators at London Gateway

Border Force officers intercepted an elaborate drug-smuggling operation after cutting open two heavy generators that had arrived at London Gateway port in Essex. Acting on their experience and the force’s assessment that the shipment looked irregular, officers used an angle grinder to open the equipment, valued at about £700,000, and discovered a tonne of cocaine concealed inside. The seizure, part of an industrial shipment that arrived from South America earlier this year, is estimated to have a street value of about £72 million.

The discovery came as part of an intelligence-led effort by Border Force and the National Crime Agency to disrupt sophisticated trafficking networks that increasingly hide drugs inside legitimate cargo. After the generators were dismantled, investigators confirmed the presence of hundreds of packages of cocaine stashed inside the machinery. The 40-tonne shipment, which originated from an undisclosed South American location, included the two generators and other equipment destined for Britain.

A Home Office spokesman said Border Force officers acted on strong intelligence to strike a significant blow against criminal networks, and that the seizure illustrates how organised crime groups are using ever-more sophisticated methods to evade detection. The spokesman noted that smugglers could have faced a huge damages bill had Border Force damaged the equipment without detecting the drugs. "Our first-class officers were one step ahead," the spokesman said, adding that the operation underscores the commitment to secure UK borders and keep streets safe.

The National Crime Agency launched an investigation into the affair, and a suspect has since been charged in connection with the case, according to a Home Office source. A separate statement described the operation as a major disruption to a well-funded trafficking operation, with dozens of packages of cocaine recovered during the inspection. The NCA declined further comment pending court proceedings.

Context for the wider picture shows the scale of the challenge. England and Wales recorded 1,118 cocaine-related deaths in 2023, up 31% from the previous year, according to official figures. Cocaine has become the second-most-used illegal drug in the United Kingdom over the past decade, behind cannabis. Europol has warned that cocaine production in Latin America has reached unprecedented levels, with wholesale prices in Europe at historic lows. The agency said organised crime groups were exploiting new, highly sophisticated trafficking methods and that cocaine shipments to the EU are now concealed in increasingly complex packaging, making detection at ports extremely difficult.

The case underscores how border enforcement relies on officers’ experience and intelligence to identify anomalies in shipments and intercept dangerous cargo before it reaches the streets. It also highlights the ongoing, global nature of drug smuggling, where criminals seek to exploit legitimate supply chains and new concealment techniques as enforcement methods evolve.