Four arrested after £40m worth of cocaine was found in pub car park
Following the discovery of £40 million worth of cocaine in a van in the parking lot of a rural pub, police have detained four individuals.
The National Crime Agency (NCA) in the UK said that about 500 kg of the substance was found in the rear of a Vauxhall Vivaro van in the Lelley, East Yorkshire, parking lot.
According to police, the cargo was moved from a larger vessel off the coast of Hull to shore in an inflatable boat with a hard hull a few hours before it was discovered.
The boat was abandoned at Easington Beach, the NCA added.
The beach is around 18 miles from the Stags Head Inn in Lelley, where the drugs “with a potential street value of around £40 million” were found.
A 22 year-old from Argyll, a 32 year-old from Oban and a 24 year-old from Campbeltown, all in Scotland, were arrested at 8.30am on Saturday, May 4, in Lelley, as well as a 39 year-old from Colombia, the NCA added.
Senior investigating officer Alan French said: “This was a significant amount of cocaine and its seizure will be a sizeable blow to the organised crime group which attempted to smuggle it into the UK.
“There’s no doubt these drugs would have been sold into communities around the UK, fuelling further crime and exploitation.
“Working with our law enforcement partners we are determined to do all we can to disrupt criminal activity, and protect the UK’s border security.
“Our investigation continues following these arrests.”
The NCA operation was supported by Humberside Police, Yorkshire and Humber Regional Organised Crime Unit and Border Force.