ports

Record £139m cannabis seizure made at Southampton port

UK authorities intercepted a massive shipment of cannabis originating from Canada at Southampton, marking a record-breaking seizure. Two shipping containers held the contraband, valued at £139 million. The discovery underscores mounting challenges facing port operators as illicit drug trafficking volumes surge through major European gateways. The shipment's size and value highlight the scale of cannabis smuggling operations targeting UK and European markets. Authorities have intensified scrutiny of containerized cargo routes linking North American suppliers to UK ports. The seizure comes amid growing cannabis legalization across North America, which has created parallel illicit markets supplying European demand. Port security officials say they are strengthening detection protocols for high-risk container flows from Canadian origins.