British authorities have intercepted one of the largest cocaine shipments in recent history, seizing 2.4 metric tons of the drug at the London Gateway Port in an intelligence-led operation.

The illicit cargo, which arrived aboard a vessel from Panama, was concealed beneath shipping containers and is estimated to be worth £96 million (16 billion), according to officials.

The Home Office confirmed that the seizure ranks as the sixth-largest cocaine bust ever recorded in the United Kingdom.

Charlie Eastaugh, director of the U.K. Border Force Maritime Command, praised the operation as a testament to the effectiveness of collaborative efforts in tackling organized crime.

"This seizure is a clear demonstration of the tireless work our maritime officers carry out to stay ahead of dangerous criminal networks. Our message is simple: with advanced intelligence and global law enforcement partnerships, we are systematically dismantling these operations," Eastaugh said.

The U.K. continues to be one of Europe’s primary markets for cocaine consumption, according to the National Crime Agency. Government data shows that cocaine-related fatalities in England and Wales surged by 31% between 2022 and 2023.

The seizure comes amid a series of major international drug interceptions. Just last week, the Mexican navy confiscated 3.5 tons of cocaine from a semisubmersible vessel off its Pacific coast. In April, the U.S. Coast Guard reported the capture of approximately 10,000 pounds of cocaine aboard a fishing vessel in the Atlantic, with an estimated street value of $74 million.

British officials say such operations underscore the growing scale of the global drug trade and the need for continued international cooperation to combat trafficking networks.