{"id":1031086,"date":"2026-06-16T22:31:41","date_gmt":"2026-06-16T22:31:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/1031086\/"},"modified":"2026-06-16T22:31:41","modified_gmt":"2026-06-16T22:31:41","slug":"three-people-from-south-wales-arrested-after-uks-biggest-ever-cannabis-seizure","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/1031086\/","title":{"rendered":"Three people from South Wales arrested after UK&#8217;s biggest ever cannabis seizure"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The cannabis discovered in the docks is worth up to \u00a3139m on the streets<\/p>\n<p>18:23, 16 Jun 2026Updated 19:16, 16 Jun 2026<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Dozens of cardboard boxes and bags next to a blue metal shipping container\" loading=\"eager\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/0_SWEP_JE_SouthamptonCannabis1.jpg\" \/><\/p>\n<p aria-label=\"The shipping containers were found to contain some 1,200 carboard boxes containing vacuum-packed bags of cannabis\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">The shipping containers were found to contain some 1,200 carboard boxes containing vacuum-packed bags of cannabis(Image: SWROCU)<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Three people from South Wales have been arrested after the biggest seizure of cannabis in UK history was made at Southampton docks. The cargo was intercepted after the Canada Border Services Agency identified a shipment of cannabis destined for the UK and alerted law enforcement in Britain.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Investigators identified two shipping containers suspected of containing cannabis which were in transit to Southampton<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Border Force officers searching the containers on May 6 after they reached the UK found some 12 tonnes of cannabis contained within 1,200 boxes of vaccum-packed bags with an estimated street value of \u00a3139m. Stay in the know by <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walesonline.co.uk\/newsletter-preference-centre\/?view=Solus&amp;mailingListId=aa0abd38-0db5-4492-99f3-e73baecff682&amp;utm_source=solusarticle\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\">making sure you\u2019re receiving our daily newsletter<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The investigation into the illegal shipment led to South Wales and today officers from <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walesonline.co.uk\/all-about\/south-wales-police\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\">South Wales Police<\/a>, <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walesonline.co.uk\/all-about\/gwent-police\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\">Gwent Police<\/a>, and the south west regional organised crime unit (SWROCU) executed warrants at the homes of two men and one woman in <a aria-label=\"Merthyr TydfilLink opens in a new tab.\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walesonline.co.uk\/all-about\/merthyr-tydfil\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_blank\">Merthyr Tydfil<\/a>, <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walesonline.co.uk\/all-about\/ebbw-vale\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\">Ebbw Vale<\/a> and <a aria-label=\"AbertilleryLink opens in a new tab.\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walesonline.co.uk\/all-about\/abertillery\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_blank\">Abertillery<\/a>. All three suspects, aged in their 30s and 40s, were arrested on suspicion of facilitating the importation of cannabis and are currently in police custody.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Cannabis in vacuum-sealed bags  \" loading=\"lazy\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/0_SWEP_JE_SouthamptonCannabis3.jpg\" \/><\/p>\n<p aria-label=\"The cannabis seized in the operation has an estimated street value of \u00a3139m\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">The cannabis seized in the operation has an estimated street value of \u00a3139m(Image: SWROCU)<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Speaking after the arrests acting inspector Stuart Cumine from SWROCU said: &#8220;This was clearly a significant seizure, which has not only taken a huge amount of drugs out of circulation, but has deprived the criminal gangs organising the importations of enormous profits totalling millions of pounds.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;While cannabis can commonly be perceived as a low-level threat, people need to understand that the criminals importing and supplying it are using the substantial profits to fund other criminality.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;Operations like this, working with partners on a national and international level, disrupt these criminal networks, deprive them of funds, and protect communities across the UK from the harm that drug supply and other organised criminality causes.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Border Force director general Phil Douglas said: &#8220;This biggest cannabis seizure ever shows Border Force\u2019s relentless action to stop drugs reaching UK streets and destroying lives.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;My thanks to our officers, the south west regional organised crime unit, and the Canada Border Services Agency for their dedication, collaboration, and professionalism.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Canada Border Services Agency president Erin O\u2019Gorman said the seizures reflected the strength of intelligence-sharing efforts between Canadian federal law enforcement and UK Border Force.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">Get daily<strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\"> breaking news<\/strong> updates on your phone by joining <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/chat.whatsapp.com\/FhCH5HyTE7c59DPUcRMUXk\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\">our WhatsApp community here<\/a>. We occasionally treat members to special offers, promotions and ads from us and our partners. 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