The drugs were found at the London Gateway depot in Essex last month, concealed in a shipping container.

About 1,060 kilograms of cocaine was discovered, believed to have been put in the cargo in Colombia and destined for Antwerp in Belgium.

Home Secretary Priti Patel said: “Drugs fuel criminality and destroy lives. Class A drugs such as cocaine inflict unimaginable damage on to our citizens and communities, shattering lives and stoking obscene levels of violence, disorder and crime.

“This significant seizure of drugs sends a stark message to criminals in the UK and abroad seeking to smuggle drugs into or through the UK.

“You will not succeed and we will use every inch of our law enforcement powers to track down and stop drugs from coming into the UK.”