LONDON, Feb. 12 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news:
Seizures of ketamine,cannabisandnitrous oxideare at an all-time highfollowing a record-breaking year of interceptions by Border Forceandpolice.
Cocaine interceptions by policeare also at recordlevelswith23,706 seizuresin the yearto March 2025.
Almost150tonnes of illegal drugs- equivalent totwoBoeing737s-with a street value of £2.6billionwasseizedby Border Force.This is a 40% increaseon the total quantity seizedinthepreviousyearand the highestsince records began.
Border Force andpoliceforcesintercepted drugs onarecord-breaking269,000 occasions -an increase of24%on the previous year.
The seizurescomeasnew data shows the successofaninnovativepilottoimmediately remove foreigncannabissmugglers from the UK.
BorderForce's'Seize andReturn'policy,introducedlastyear,allowsofficers toreturncannabistraffickerstotheircountry of origin, oftenwithin hours ofarriving.
To date, 165 criminals responsiblefor smugglingover 4tonnesofcannabis intoUK airports have been returned.
This has savedBritishtaxpayersan estimated£11.4million-easing pressure on theprison estate,preventingforeignoffendersclogging up thecourtssystemand heading offanypotential asylum claims.The scheme has nowbeen rolled outacrossEngland and Wales.
Cannabis was present in93% of alldrugs seizedby Border Forceinthe year ending March 2025, with over 62,000illegalimportsintercepted.
A record4 million doses of nitrous oxide was seizedby Border Forceand police,representinga2,185% increase from last year.
The same year also saw a surgeincriminalsattemptingtosmuggleketamine into Britain. Thetotal quantityseizedby Border Force and policeincreased by 55%from the previous yearto1.3 tonnes.
Home OfficeMinisterMikeTapp said:
Drug seizures are at arecord highunder thisgovernment- withBritishlawenforcementdeprivingevilgangsofalmost £3billionworthinone year alone.
Every seizurestrikes a blow at the heart oforganised crime and stopsdangerousdrugs frominflictingmisery on our communities.
We willcontinue to do whatever it takes to secureBritain'sbordersagainst thosedoing harm to our country.
Border Force Director General Phil Douglas said:
OurinnovativeSeize and Return policy is deliveringreal results-removing smugglers within hours, saving taxpayers millions, and freeing up our officers to pursue the organised crime gangs that cause the most harm.
Border Forcewillcontinuetobe relentless in ourpursuit ofdangerouscriminalnetworksanddisruptionofdrugsupply.
Workingin partnership, police forces, Border Force, the National CrimeAgencyand international partners use intelligence and technology to keep the UK's borders safe, prevent drug trafficking and bring those responsible to justice.
Border Force has also intensified efforts to tackle drug smuggling at seaas organised crime groupsattemptto use maritime routes andarange of methodologies,including'at-sea-drop-offs'to smuggle drugs into the country.
In January last year,1.5 tonnesofcocainewith a street value ofjust under £60millionwasdetected on a vessel arriving into Dover from Peru.
Officersuse a range of methods including hi-tech search equipment to detect and stop illegal and restricted goods that criminalsattemptto bring into the country. BorderForce also employs specialist officers trainedto conduct deep searches of ships and vessels.
Organised crime gangs are increasinglyusingexpensive equipment to conceal drugsin the hope that law enforcement will be deterred bythepotential costs involved with destroying it. In September last year,Border Forceoutsmarted criminalswho hidone tonne of cocaine intwo industrialgeneratorsvalued at£720,000.
Under the Plan for Change, Border Force will continue to build onlast year'ssuccess through ongoing operations targetingdrugsmuggling networks.
Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.
