A court has heard that authorities at the Portsmouth border uncovered 2,330 blocks of cocaine weighing 2.3 tonnes, worth £200 million, being smuggled into the UK in banana boxes from Colombia. The Class A drug was discovered among 41 pallets of bananas, with four pallets containing the illegal substance being brought into the country. Border officials then worked with covert police officers to remove the cocaine from the affected pallets and substitute it with more bananas. Two police officers posing as lorry drivers delivered the boxes to a warehouse in north London, where they were met by three men, including the defendant Petko Zhutev, who is accused of being in charge of taking the delivery.
Prosecutor Tyrone Silcott (Via Tyrone Silcott/Twitter)
Prosecutors claim that Zhutev, 38, was involved in the importation of the drugs, citing the large quantity and value of the cocaine, which had a street value of £186 million and rising to £200 million when mixed with other substances, making it the largest inland seizure ever by UK officers. The cocaine was found to be hidden among the banana boxes, with numbered pallets identified and moved to a first-floor area where the process of searching them had started. A revolver containing six live cartridges was also recovered from a ceiling girder above the boxes.
Prosecutor Tyrone Silcott told jurors that while there is no dispute about the intent of the drugs or the presence of the firearm, the question remains as to whether Zhutev was involved in the importation of the drugs or simply an innocent person going about his lawful business of importing food. Zhutev has denied charges related to the importation of the Class A drug and possession of a firearm and ammunition with intent to endanger life. The trial at the Old Bailey continues.
