A staggering amount of cocaine was smuggled in blocks of Gouda cheese, totaling 220 years in prison.

A sophisticated criminal organization attempted to smuggle 4.5 tons of cocaine into the UK via the Dover port, hiding it in cheese blocks. The operation was traced back to a smaller seizure in Leeds, leading to the arrest of 18 individuals involved in drug trafficking. An extensive investigation revealed that between December 2022 and April 2023, the gang imported over 123,568 kg of cheese, using it as a cover for distributing drugs across the country. After a raid on a distribution center, the criminals changed tactics, hiding drugs in chocolate containers and frozen fish. Ultimately, the police dismantled the entire network in December 2023, resulting in a total of 220 years of prison sentences for the 18 convicted, with the two ringleaders receiving 25 years each.