Multi-coloured packets of cocaine worth £70 million found in the boot of a mini cab

Cocaine worth an estimated £70 million has been found in the boot of a mini cab.

A huge 200kg of the drug in several high-purity blocks was seized by police after they found it stashed in holdalls in a mini cab near Tilbury Docks in Essex in the early hours of yesterday.

The driver and seven others have been arrested by detectives investigating the importation of drugs in London and the Home Counties.

Officers from the Metropolitan Police's Special Intelligence Section, working with Essex Police personnel, intercepted two cars near Tilbury Docks at approximately 2am yesterday morning.

They stopped the white mini cab on the A1089 and during a search discovered numerous blocks of high-purity cocaine, weighing 200kg, stashed in holdalls in the boot.

The driver, a 29-year-old man from Essex, was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to import drugs and conspiracy to supply controlled drugs. There were no passengers.