£2.7m of cocaine and £50k in a plastic bag found after car stopped in South Woodford

Bundles of cocaine worth millions of pounds were seized last night after police interrupted a highly organised drugs ring.

In a preplanned strike, police stopped a silver BMW on the Waterworks roundabout, Woodford Avenue, South Woodford at about 6pm.

During the operation cocaine with a street value of £2.7 million together with about £50,000 were seized by police.

The car was stopped after police saw suspicious activity in the Custom House area in Newham.

Officers spent an hour searching the car with the help of a drugs trained sniffer dog and found the stash in a sophisticated hidden compartment.

Seven blocks of what is believed to be cocaine were recovered.

They also found another car key and once the second vehicle was found near Enfield, discovered a blue plastic bag stuffed full of £50 notes.

Two linked address were also searched and a two further blocks of possible cocaine were recovered as well as a hydraulic cocaine press and a money counting machine.

In total about 12kg of cocaine was recovered.

Det Insp Steve Miles who led the investigation said: “There is no doubt we have uncovered a highly sophisticated crime network involved in the distribution of drugs and money-laundering on a large scale.”

A 24 and 27 year old travelling in the car were arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply, being concerned in the supply of drugs and money laundering.

Three men at the address in Enfield aged, 24, 29 and 31 were arrested on suspicion of drugs trafficking offences.

All of the men are in custody.

Mr Miles added: “We will continue our efforts to disrupt similar networks to take drugs off the streets of London.”

If you have any information about this incident call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.