£500,000 cash and 50kgs of heroin amongst items seized in UK ports crackdown

Starting on Monday, 8 June, police, along with colleagues from Border Force, the National Crime Agency (NCA) and Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) have carried out briefings to over 1,000 employees working at 55 UK ports over the past week, advising them on what they should be looking out for to help tackle the threat of terrorism and serious organised crime.

Briefings were delivered by specialist Counter Terrorism Security Advisors alongside officers from Border Force, NCA and HMRC with ports staff advised on signs and behaviour they should be aware of and what they should do if they spot something suspicious.

The week’s activity, which was coordinated by the National Counter Terrorism Policing Headquarters (NCTPHQ), also saw officers from across the UK’s various police forces working closely with partner agencies on around 550 operational activities targeting terrorist-related activity and serious organised crime. Operations were carried out targeting the illegal passage of cash, weapons, drugs, goods and people through British ports linked to criminal or terrorist-related activity.

Approximately £535,000 has been seized at various sea, rail and air ports during the week. Police and Border Force officers at Heathrow seized around £20,000, which was discovered after seven people were stopped at the airport and approximately €50,000 were seized by police from a traveller who had just arrived at London St. Pancras International station from Paris. Police and Border Force officers, along with sniffers dogs have also seized around £35,000 from across ports in the North West of England, including Manchester airport and Liverpool John Lennon airport.

NCA and Border Force officers seized 50kg of heroin with an approximate street value of £2.5m, following a search of a Heavy Goods Vehicle at Harwich port. The packages were located by an NCA drugs dog, who found them hidden behind a soft panel in the driver’s cab of the vehicle. The driver has been charged and remains in custody while the NCA’s Border Policing Command continue to investigate.

HMRC officers, working alongside colleagues from Border Force at Dover also seized three lorries containing approximately 60,000 litres of beer and 8,000 litres of wine, which is estimated to be worth a potential £75,000 in lost excise duty.

National Police Lead for Counter Terrorism, Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley said:

“Everyone has a role to play in defeating terrorism and those working at ports and involved in ports and travel industries can play an important part in helping to protect the whole of the UK from these threats.

“With the increased threat of terrorism, this week of activity has shown that the UK’s law enforcement agencies are working closer than ever to protect the public. This work goes on 52 weeks of the year, but as we approach the summer - and what is traditionally the busiest period of the year for our ports - this is a timely reminder of the work that police and others do on a daily basis to protect the public from such threats.”

Border Force Director General, Sir Charles Montgomery said:

"This week’s successful activity demonstrates the vital work Border Force officers are doing on the front line every day to protect our national security by identifying and disrupting organised crime gangs and individuals with links to terrorism.

“Border Force continues to work in partnership with the police, HMRC and NCA to tackle the global illicit trade in counterfeit goods and illegal substances as well as detecting British fighters attempting to return to the UK.”

Deputy Director of the National Crime Agency’s Border Policing Command, Tom Dowdall said:

“This week highlights the crucial work that law enforcement performs on a daily basis in combatting the scourge of organised criminals that trade in guns, drugs and human trafficking.

“What is essential is the engagement with those working, living in and travelling through the UK’s port and airfield communities. Reporting something slightly unusual could be the piece of information that helps prevent the misery brought by drugs, weapons and human trafficking from reaching Britain’s streets.”

Richard Las, Deputy Director, Criminal Investigation, HMRC, said:

"We work closely with our law enforcement partners to target crime and protect the UK from tax evasion and fraud, which funds serious organised crime. This initiative has been a major success for all agencies and we will continue to build on our intelligence and investigations into smuggling activities to reassure the public and bring these criminals before the courts."

As of Thursday, there had been a total of 11 arrests for various offences, including drugs and money laundering offences. Almost 1,000 vehicles and more than 300 vessels have been searched, along with 25 containers and 34 packages across the 55 UK ports. Activity is continuing through to Friday, 12 June.

Additional information:

+ The threat to the UK from international terrorism is unchanged and remains at SEVERE, meaning an attack is highly likely.

+ Around 700 extremists are among the Britons who have travelled to Syria, a significant proportion to join ISIL.

+ In 2014/15 out of a total of 338 CT-related arrests in the UK, 157 (46%) were Syria-related

+ NaCTSO is the national police unit that supports the ‘protect’ and ‘prepare’ strands of the Governments counter terrorism strategy. It is part of the National Police Chiefs Council (formerly ACPO) and supports a network of approximately 190 counter terrorism security advisors who work as officers and staff within local police forces across the UK. For more information about NaCTSO visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/national-counter-terrorism-security-office/about

+ Further Information about Project Griffin, a police initiative to protect our cities and communities from the threat of terrorism, can be found at http://www.projectgriffin.org.uk/

+ Further information about Project Kraken, which focuses on surveillance of the UK coastline by law enforcement and other agencies and encourages people who work along the coast to be vigilant to suspicious activity and report it can be found at: http://www.nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk/campaigns/project-kraken

+ Regional counter-terrorism communications teams can provide further information detailing regional activity in relation to this activity

+ The Anti-Terrorist Hotline number is 0800 789 321.

+ Further information about the CONTEST counter-terrorism strategy can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/policies/protecting-the-uk-against-terrorism