Ketamine seizures reach 15 year high
UK Border Force reported a 15-year high in ketamine seizures during the first quarter of 2026, intercepting 1,298kg of the drug at national borders.
Border Force officers intercepted a record 1,298kg of ketamine at the UK border in the first three months of 2026, marking the highest quarterly total in 15 years. This represents a 42% increase compared to the previous quarter, when nearly 915kg was seized. The milestone underscores growing enforcement efforts to curb the illegal supply of ketamine, a drug linked to severe health risks including irreversible bladder damage and fatal overdoses. Authorities highlight the ongoing threat posed by organised crime groups exploiting border routes to traffic controlled substances into the country.
The seizures follow two significant interceptions at Harwich International Port, where drivers arriving from the Hook of Holland were found carrying 100kg and 200kg of ketamine in separate incidents. Border Force also reported seizing over 59,000 doses of nitrous oxide and more than 9,000kg of cocaine during the same period. Herbal cannabis accounted for the majority of drug seizures by weight. Officials attribute the record figures to enhanced operational vigilance and targeted enforcement strategies aimed at disrupting drug supply chains before they reach communities.
Home Secretary secured a new agreement with Five Eyes partners—including the US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand—to strengthen international cooperation against synthetic opioids. These substances, such as nitazenes, are up to 500 times more potent than heroin and pose a heightened risk of accidental overdose. Between June 2023 and June 2025, over 1,000 UK deaths were linked to synthetic opioids. The agreement focuses on disrupting criminal networks, improving intelligence sharing, and tightening controls on precursor chemicals used in illicit drug production.
The new Five Eyes accord builds on existing commitments, including the development of a synthetic opioid pills profiler now in use by Border Force and police. The database enhances frontline capabilities to identify emerging synthetic drug threats. Ministers emphasised the need for sustained collaboration with industry and international bodies to prevent diversion of precursor chemicals into illegal supply chains. The measures aim to reduce harm by intercepting dangerous substances before they enter circulation and disrupting the organised crime groups responsible for their production and trafficking.