A WICKFORD man has been arrested by officers targeting an international organised crime group manufacturing drug smuggling hides in industrial machinery.

The National Crime Agency launched series of raids across south east England on Tuesday morning, with officers executing one warrant in Rayleigh.

The raids formed part of an operation linked to the interception of 125 kilos of cocaine destined for Sydney, Australia, on July 11.

The drugs, which would have had a UK street value of approximately £20 million, were found in a specially constructed concealment built into a diesel generator.

The operation saw a 29-year-old arrested in Wickford, a 43-year-old arrested in Much Hadham, Hertfordshire and a 42-year-old arrested in Romford.

All three men were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to export a controlled drug and were questioned by NCA officers.

They have since been released on bail.

Industrial premises in Rayleigh, South Ockenden and Feltham, west London, were also searched.

Officers found a generator with a concealment at the South Ockenden address, cannabis plants and a number of stolen vehicles.

High value jewellery was also found at one address.

Investigators suspect the crime group had specialised in making concealments within machinery, with a number of industrial generators specially adapted to create a space to hide illicit goods.  

NCA Branch Commander Lydia Bloomfield said: “Our investigation has targeted a network we suspect was providing a rare and highly sophisticated service to other organised crime groups.

“A shipment of this quantity of cocaine from the UK to Australia is unusual, but demonstrates the global scale of the class A drugs trade – which causes violence and intimidation throughout its supply chain.

“This operation has been planned and carried out alongside our partners including Border Force and New South Wales Police. We work closely with partners around the world to combat the highest risk organised crime threats.”

At about the same time, police officers in Australia launched a linked raid at a property in Cawdor, New South Wales.

Three men, two aged 29 and a one aged 32, were arrested.

Later that evening the New South Wales Police Force executed another raid in Lane Cove where a further two men, 29 and 32, were arrested.