£1million haul of cocaine discovered in coronavirus facemasks bound for Britain at Coquelles, near Calais France

BORDER Force officials at Coquelles, Calais, France, found cocaine worth more than £1 million in a consignment of protective face masks that were meant for Britain.

A Polish-registered van was pulled over by officers as it attempted to enter the UK through the Channel Tunnel. The driver was arrested, he was a 34-year-old Polish national.

Ian Hanson, Border Force regional director, said it was “despicable” to think drug smugglers would try to exploit the coronavirus situation.

“The face masks have been held pending checks by regulators, while the driver is being questioned in custody,” he said.

Darren Herbert, from the National Crime Agency (NCA) Dover branch, said:

“This seizure is further evidence of the way criminal networks are attempting to exploit the coronavirus outbreak to their own ends, covering this load of drugs with what would seem like vital protective equipment.”

Border Force said the van was stopped at the Channel Tunnel terminal at Coquelles, France, on Tuesday, officers who searched the van found 15 wrapped packages of the Class A drug.

The contents of the packages were tested and proved positive for cocaine.