Four arrested in Shropshire village after £80m of cocaine found hidden under shea butter in shipping container
Four men have been arrested in a sleepy Shropshire village on suspicion of cocaine smuggling after nearly 850kg of the drug was found at a docks in Essex.
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The men, aged in their 30s, 40s, and 60s, were arrested on suspicion of drugs offences in an NCA raid at an address in Merrington, north of Shrewsbury.
It followed the discovery of a huge haul of cocaine worth £80 million recovered as part of a National Crime Agency investigation.
The 847.5 kg of the class A drug was found in a shipping container, hidden under shea butter.
The NCA investigation was launched after Border Force officers searched a shipping container on December 23 at Tilbury Docks in Essex.
Inside was a load of shea butter but secreted under it were the blocks of cocaine which all had markings at the top and bottom, including Polo Ralph Lauren logos, a Cessna logo and a Star of David.
West Mercia Police provided support to the NCA arrests and searches.
A woman in her 40s was also arrested on suspicion of money laundering and released under investigation.
The four men have been bailed pending further enquiries.
David Phillips, NCA operations manager, said: “The NCA works tirelessly with partners at home and abroad to protect the public from the threat of Class A drugs which cause devastation to communities across the UK.
“This is a very significant haul of cocaine and its seizure will cause big losses to the organised crime group behind its importation.”
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