UK Border Force has announced its largest ever cannabis seizure, intercepting a staggering 12 tonnes of the drug at Southampton Port last month. The monumental haul, estimated to be worth £139 million, represents a significant blow to organised crime networks operating within and beyond the UK's borders. Officers discovered the vast quantity of cannabis, packed into 1,200 boxes, inside two shipping containers that had arrived from Canada.
The successful operation was the result of extensive collaboration between UK law enforcement and international partners, including the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). Expert intelligence analysts within the Home Office played a crucial role, identifying the suspicious containers en route to Southampton, which enabled officers to prepare for the seizure. This record-breaking interception surpasses Border Force's previous largest cannabis find of just under eight tonnes (7,955 kilos) in April 2017, also at Southampton Port.
Minister for Migration and Citizenship, Mike Tapp, commended the Border Force officers for their work, stating that the government would not allow criminal gangs to profit from their illicit trade. Similarly, Phil Douglas, Director General of Border Force, highlighted the agency's "relentless action to stop drugs reaching UK streets and destroying lives," expressing gratitude for the collaboration with the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit (SWROCU) and the CBSA.
The seizure on 6th May 2026 forms a key part of a wider investigation by the SWROCU into criminal gangs involved in drug trafficking. This follows a related incident in April where the CBSA prevented a shipping container, also destined for the UK and containing cannabis, from leaving Canada. Today, 16th June 2026, the SWROCU confirmed the arrest of three individuals on suspicion of facilitating these importations, indicating ongoing efforts to dismantle these criminal networks.
This record-breaking discovery contributes to what has been a significant year for Border Force in combating illegal drug movements. According to the latest statistics, Border Force seized almost 150 tonnes of illegal drugs in the year ending March 2025, marking the highest amount since records began and representing a 40% year-on-year increase in the quantity of drugs intercepted. This continued success underscores the enhanced efforts to secure UK borders and disrupt the supply of illicit substances.