In a significant operation targeting a suspected organized crime group (OCG), Police and the NCA conducted coordinated raids across Lancashire and Merseyside, resulting in the arrest of nine individuals. The arrests are in connection with an attempted smuggling operation valued at £140 million involving cocaine. The operation was carried out by the National Crime Agency (NCA) on the morning of November 29.
The OCG in question was believed to be responsible for a smuggling attempt in August 2022 when a shipment of cocaine was transported from Sierra Leone. However, the operation took an unexpected turn when the shipment was discovered concealed in a shipping container at the Port of Felixstowe in Suffolk. The Class A drugs, weighing a substantial 20 kilograms, had been hidden beneath sacks of flour and were destined for delivery in Wigan before being intercepted.
Of the nine suspects taken into custody, six are directly linked to the seized drugs, with five of them having prior arrest records. The remaining three alleged OCG members were apprehended on separate charges related to a conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.
The arrests were carried out in various locations, with four suspects detained in Chorley, and others taken into custody in Bootle, Crosby, and Birkenhead. As of now, all nine individuals are in police custody awaiting interviews.
Richie Davies, the National Crime Agency Branch Commander, commented on the operation, stating, “This was a massive haul of cocaine with an estimated street value of £140 million. There is no doubt these drugs would have been sold on into communities across the UK, fuelling violence, exploitation, and misery. Since the seizure of the drugs, the agency has been working intensely to identify and pursue those responsible.”
The successful operation underscores the dedication of law enforcement agencies to combat drug trafficking and organized crime, aiming to protect communities and prevent the proliferation of dangerous narcotics. Investigations into the smuggling attempt and those involved are ongoing, with authorities committed to bringing the culprits to justice.
