Heroin seized in UK and South Africa

17 September 2009

Heroin and cannabis with a value of around £25m has been seized in a series of raids involving SOCA, the UKBA and the South African authorities.

The operation was launched after the UKBA seized 165 kilos of heroin at Heathrow Airport. A SOCA raid on premises in Dartford, Kent netted a further 80 kilos of heroin as well as intelligence leading to a number of targets in South Africa.

Using SOCA’s global Liaison Officer network, the leads were quickly developed and passed to the South African authorities, who recovered 115 kilos of heroin and 6,500 kilos of cannabis.

Deputy Director Andy Sellers said:

“Protecting the UK from the harm caused by drug traffickers means going beyond the UK’s borders and targeting the people behind the trade. Both ends of this international chain have been attacked and a significant amount of drugs has been kept of the UK’s streets.”