Seven men, including a port worker, have been arrested after 1.2 tonnes of cocaine with an estimated street value of £90m was found stashed in a boat carrying bananas at Sheerness docks.

More than 100 officers including armed police sealed off the port in a dawn drugs raid yesterday led by the National Crime Agency.

The dawn raid came after an NCA investigation into a group suspected of plotting with a port worker to smuggle significant amounts of class A drugs through Sheerness. One of those arrested is a port worker who works as a security guard, the NCA confirmed.

Six people were arrested in the docks and a seventh was later arrested at his home in Hertfordshire. A number of properties were searched following the arrests.

All seven were charged last night with conspiring to import class A drugs and appeared at Medway Magistrates' Court later today. All seven were remanded in custody until their next appearance at Maidstone Crown Court on Tuesday, January 18.

NCA investigators believe the drugs had arrived on a boat from Costa Rica and were hidden inside a shipment of bananas.

NCA regional head of investigation Jacque Beer said: “Our investigation has focused on what we believe to be a dangerous group intent on importing large amounts of drugs to the UK, using insider contacts within the port.

“We know that criminal gangs target insiders within ports and airport for their knowledge and access. While it is rare, when it happens it represents a disproportionately large threat which is why it is such a focus for the NCA.

“We believe this activity has thwarted those intentions and led to the dismantling of the network involved."

He added: “This was a major operation involving a large number of law enforcement officers from the NCA, our Kent Police colleagues and Border Force who I’d like to thank for their assistance as well as the port operator.

“Working together we are determined to do all we can to protect the security and integrity of the UK border.”

Minister for Security and Borders Damian Hinds said: “This seizure has prevented a significant amount of dangerous drugs from ending up on our streets, which not only reduces the harm they cause to communities but also makes a huge dent in the profits of smugglers.

“Joint working, including intelligence sharing, between our Border Force officers, the NCA and wider law enforcement partners is essential to preventing drug trafficking like this.”

In July the NCA issued a nationwide alert that furloughed port and airport workers might be vulnerable to organised crime gangs trying to exploit the coronavirus crisis.

The investigation continues. Anyone with information or suspicions should contact Crimestoppers anonymously or the police on 101.

The men charged are: Sam Elphick, 27, of Melody Close, Warden, Sheppey; Michael Turner, 54, of Buntingford, Herts; Joel McCaughey, 31, of Castlefield, Manchester; Darren Laurie, 50, of no fixed address; Kyle Davidson, 30, of Buntingford, Herts; Ian Woodward, 33, of Ware, Herts and Danny Laird, 38, of Buntingford, Herts.