Police pull over frozen meat lorry and are left gobsmacked by its contents

15 December 2023 , 17:52

465     0

The packages of suspected cocaine were stashed amongst parcels of frozen meat (Image: PA)

Eagle-eyed police who pulled over a frozen meat lorry were stunned to find £10m of cocaine stashed in the back in one of their biggest ever drugs seizures.

The incident came about after a patrol car stopped a "suspicious lorry" and searched it, finding the suspected Class A drugs hidden in boxes of frozen meat. A 30-year-old man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of a number of driving offences and has since been released on bail.

Officers say this is the biggest seizure of suspected cocaine in Northern Ireland by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and that "the sophistication of the concealment method and sheer quantity of the drugs gives an indication of the scale of criminality involved". The lorry was stopped during a routine patrol in Jonesborough, South Armagh.

It's the biggest drug bust carried out by the PSNI (PA)

Superintendent Norman Haslett, the Newry, Mourne & Down District Commander said: "Slieve Gullion Neighbourhood Policing Team officers, whilst on routine patrol in the Jonesborough area of South Armagh on Monday evening, December 11, had reason to stop a suspicious lorry. A subsequent search of the vehicle revealed a large quantity of suspected cocaine concealed within boxes containing frozen meat products, worth an estimated street value of £10million.

"I believe that this significant quantity of drugs would have been distributed and sold in local communities across Northern Ireland bringing untold harm. Organised crime groups involved in this activity profit hugely from the sale of these harmful drugs and have no care for the destruction and harm they cause to people's lives.

"This is an example of effective community-based Neighbourhood policing at its best. As District Commander I am incredibly proud of my team who have removed a very significant amount of illegal and harmful drugs from our streets."

Officers from the PSNI's Organised Crime Branch have now launched a probe and Detective Chief Superintendent Andy Hill said. "The investigation is at an early stage and we making a specific appeal to anyone who noticed a maroon-coloured Iveco Eurocargo lorry with the registration number LK08 LHO travelling within the South Armagh area, particularly in the wider Jonesborough and Keady areas to make contact with police.

“Please review any dash-cam or CCTV footage that you think you may have of this vehicle – this information could help our investigation greatly. The Police Service, under Operation Dealbreaker, is actively committed to removing drugs from our streets, and we will continue to proactively investigate and carry out searches to disrupt this activity, and those involved in the drugs trade.

“Anyone tempted to become involved in illegal drugs should be under no illusion; we will seek to identify them, arrest them and place them before the courts. We will robustly investigate this seizure and enquiries are ongoing to identify those involved in facilitating and organising this importation."

Police in the province have overseen a 10 percent increase on both arrests and seizures in the last year and have appealed for anyone with any information about suspected drug dealing in their area to call the non-emergency number 101. Alternatively, information can also be given anonymously to the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.

Paul Donald