A man from Leeds was charged last month in connection with the plot to import the drug inside a consignment of frozen chicken with a ‘use-by’ date of 2010.
The man, known as Christopher Still, was arrested on December 5 after Border Force officers found the powdered drugs at Killinghome port, Lincolnshire, before alerting the National Crime Agency (NCA).
A kilogramme of the class B drug methoxetamine (an amphetamine) was also found among the pallets of chicken that had arrived on a lorry from the Netherlands, NCA officers said.
30kg of amphetamine
NCA investigators had a warrant to search business premises in Holbeck, Leeds, where they recovered another 30kg of amphetamine.
“The likely combined street value of the MDMA and amphetamine is estimated to be at least £4.5M,” the NCA said.
Still appeared at Leeds Crown Court on December 22, after first appearing before Wakefield Magistrates on December 8. He did not enter any pleas and was remanded in custody until March 13.
He was charged with conspiring to import class A drugs, importing class B drugs, possession with intent to supply and possession of criminal property.
The driver of the lorry, a 52-year-old Dutch national, has been bailed pending further enquiries.
‘Smuggling attempt continues’
Branch commander of the NCA, David Norris, said: “Through close work with Border Force colleagues, we have taken a substantial amount of class A and B drugs out of circulation and our investigation into this particular smuggling attempt continues.
“The organised criminal networks responsible for attempting to traffic drugs to the UK should know that we don’t get tired – we will continue to relentlessly pursue them and disrupt their activities.”
Assistant director for Border Force Humber Command, Mark Robinson, said: “This was an excellent seizure and demonstrates how Border Force officers play a crucial role in protecting the UK from illegal contraband.”
Meanwhile, in the past two years, Border Force officers have seized various amounts of drugs concealed in food, including:
- 175kg of cocaine in bananas at Portsmouth port
- 13kg of cocaine in the rope surrounding fruit pallets at Gatwick Airport
- 100kg of cannabis resin in a fruit consignment at Portsmouth port
- Drugs in fake yams in Essex