In a record-smashing drug bust, the United Kingdom Border Force officers confiscated around half a ton of cocaine from aboard a private jet at Farnborough Airport in England.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The plane had come direct from Bogota, Colombia. Packages of cocaine were found hidden in suitcases that were on board. Those arrested are now being questioned by NCA officers. Many thanks to <a href="https://twitter.com/HantsPolice?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@HantsPolice</a> for their assistance at the scene <a href="https://t.co/LTuNO1y4iD">https://t.co/LTuNO1y4iD</a> <a href="https://t.co/WYzvZNWQ4x">pic.twitter.com/WYzvZNWQ4x</a></p>— NationalCrimeAgency (@NCA_UK) <a href="https://twitter.com/NCA_UK/status/958341348234493953?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 30, 2018</a></blockquote>
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United Kingdom authorities said the plane was traveling from Bogota, Colombia and of the five men aboard the private jet two were British, two Spanish and one Italian.
The National Crime Agency reports an estimated $70.68 million worth of cocaine was seized from the private jet. The seizure was one of the largest in UK history, according to Border Force officials.
Chief Operating Officer Mike Stepney said, "After meeting the flight and questioning those on board, officers became suspicious and searched the aircraft and their luggage."
"When opened, each case was found to contain between 34 to 37 tape wrapped packages weighing approximately one kilogram each. One of these was pierced and a white powder exposed which tested positive for cocaine," Stepney said.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The half-tonne seizure is thought to be one of the largest flown into the UK in many years. NCA investigator Siobhan Micklethwaite: "This seizure represents a major blow to organised crime". <a href="https://t.co/XlgZhADSco">https://t.co/XlgZhADSco</a> <a href="https://t.co/7WYJYSP4Uz">pic.twitter.com/7WYJYSP4Uz</a></p>— NationalCrimeAgency (@NCA_UK) <a href="https://twitter.com/NCA_UK/status/958342473117589506?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 30, 2018</a></blockquote>
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United Kingdom authorities also seized computers and phones from three addresses in Bournemouth just a couple hours southwest of London.
Border Force officers questioned the plane crew in connection with the drug smuggling but were later released without being charged.
The raid is reminiscent of a 2017 bust by Colombian officials who seized $360 million worth of drugs on the way to the United States.
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Source: http://m.ksla.com/ksla/db_350562/contentdetail.htm?full=true&contentguid=8oqtvaUn&pn=&ps=#display
Private delivery and courier service from Bogota, Colombia… Only the wealthy get this type of special handling perk.☺