£1.7m harbour drugs seizure

THE biggest drugs haul ever to be seized at Newhaven Harbour has been heralded by HM Customs as proof it is targeting smuggling through the port.

THE biggest drugs haul ever to be seized at Newhaven Harbour has been heralded by HM Customs as proof it is targeting smuggling through the port.

Customs checks at Newhaven recently came under the spotlight when Newhaven MP Norman Baker called for tighter controls after a full cross-Channel ferry docked and was greeted by an unmanned Customs bay and a solitary passport official.

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He was concerned this common sight would send out a message the port was an easy option for smugglers.

But HM Customs and Excise said the seizure of ecstasy tablets with a street value of nearly 2m was proof it was on the case.

Customs law enforcement spokesman Bob Gaigher said the haul, which was the largest consignment of Class A drugs ever found being smuggled through Newhaven from Dieppe, should dispel a popular misconception that Newhaven was not monitored.

'It shows that we are not ignoring Newhaven as a port. We are there looking for any form of smuggling, be it drugs, alcohol or tobacco,' he said.

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The drugs were found by officers on a routine check of a British-registered lorry as it left a Transmanche ferry on Thursday morning last week.

During the search around 133,500 tablets were discovered in a wooden crate among a mixed freight load from Germany.

The two occupants of the lorry, a 52-year-old man from Barnsley and a 38-year-old man from Stockport, were arrested and interviewed by Customs officers. They were later released on bail pending further inquiries.

Mr Gaigher said: 'We are delighted with this seizure. With an estimated street value of 1,780,000 it is the largest seizure of Class A drugs we have ever had at Newhaven.'

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He added: 'We believe the drugs may have been destined for the North West of England. We are pleased to have stopped such a large quantity of drugs from hitting the streets.'

MP Norman Baker said his warnings had been vindicated by the seizure.

'I have warned for a long time that Newhaven is a green channel for smugglers and it appears they have made the same conclusion.'

He added: 'I hope Customs have recognised the validity of the calls I have made for the need for more officers at Newhaven.'