UK Border Force and police report record drug seizures
On 12 February 2026, the Home Office said Border Force and police had a record year for drug seizures, with ketamine, cannabis and nitrous oxide at all‑time highs and police recording 23,706 cocaine seizures in the year to March 2025. We walk through what those numbers do-and don’t-show. (gov.uk)
First, the scale in plain English. Border Force seized about 148 tonnes of drugs in 2024–25-the largest total on record and roughly the weight of two Boeing 737s. Across England and Wales there were 269,321 interceptions, up 24% on 2023–24. (gov.uk)
Before we draw conclusions, a reading tip from the statisticians themselves. The Home Office’s official release warns that a few very large hauls can skew total quantities, and that seizure counts shift with enforcement and recording practices. The Metropolitan Police, for example, changed its recording system in February 2024, which may have pushed its figures up. (gov.uk)
Cocaine snapshot. Police made a record 23,706 powder cocaine seizures in 2024–25, yet the combined weight of cocaine seized fell by 35% on the year because there were fewer very large consignments. In other words, “number of seizures” and “quantity seized” can tell different stories. (gov.uk)
Where cannabis fits. Cannabis appeared in 93% of Border Force drug seizures, and the agency intercepted more than 62,000 cannabis imports-the highest number since records began. Look across police and Border Force together and cannabis was present in 72% of all seizures, so it heavily shapes the overall picture. (gov.uk)
Nitrous oxide after the law change. In 2024–25, 4.19 million doses were seized-a 2,185% jump year‑on‑year-with Border Force accounting for 3.67 million of those doses. Possession intended for inhalation has been illegal since 8 November 2023, when nitrous oxide was classified as a Class C drug. (gov.uk)
Ketamine on the rise. Border Force and police seized 1.3 tonnes in 2024–25, up 55% on the previous year. After a government review, the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs advised on 28 January 2026 that ketamine should remain Class B, paired with better data, testing and support rather than reclassification alone. (gov.uk)
A quick note on Border Force’s ‘Seize and Return’ policy. Since its 2024 pilot, officials say 165 foreign nationals caught smuggling cannabis have been removed-linked to over 4 tonnes seized-often within hours, with an estimated £11.4 million saved. It has now been rolled out across England and Wales; how this interacts with due process and asylum rights will be closely watched. (gov.uk)
What operations look like on the ground. Recent examples cited by government include 1.5 tonnes of cocaine detected on a ship from South America at Dover in January 2025, and a one‑tonne haul hidden inside two industrial generators seized at London Gateway in September 2025-both built on intelligence and deep searches. (gov.uk)
A quick guide to drug classes and penalties you’ll see referenced. In UK law, Class A includes cocaine and heroin; Class B includes cannabis and ketamine; Class C includes nitrous oxide. Maximum penalties range from up to 7 years for Class A possession to up to life for Class A supply, with lower maximums for Classes B and C. (gov.uk)
What this means for communities. Big interdictions can disrupt supply chains and raise risks for organised crime, but they don’t automatically cut demand. Official survey data estimate 2.9 million adults used an illicit drug in the year to March 2025. The ACMD urges pairing enforcement with prevention, treatment and better data. (gov.uk)
How to read stories like this in class or at home. Check the period covered (here, the year ending March 2025), whether claims refer to counts or weights, and note any legal or recording changes shaping trends-nitrous oxide became Class C on 8 November 2023, for example. Also track what happens next, including the Home Office response to the ACMD’s ketamine advice of 28 January 2026. (gov.uk)