Border Force officers seized almost 1.3 tonnes of ketamine at the UK border in the first quarter of this year, up more than 40 per cent on the same period last year and the highest quarterly total in 15 years.
Officers at Harwich International Port alone have seized 300kg of the drug over the last 12 months, the Home Office states, much of it arriving from the Hook of Holland. The Border Force also intercepted more than 9,000kg of cocaine in the first quarter of this year, along with almost 60,000 doses of nitrous oxide – nearly double the amount seized in the previous quarter.
Analysis of wastewater samples by the Home Office earlier this year estimated England’s ketamine consumption in the year to July 2025 at more than 30,000kg, with a market value of nearly £1bn.
The UK has also signed a new agreement with its Five Eyes partners – the US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand – to strengthen the international response to the threat posed by powerful synthetic opioids, the Home Office has announced. This will include enhanced intelligence sharing and tightening controls on precursor chemicals to prevent their diversion into illicit supply chains.
‘The record amount of ketamine seized at our border reflects the dedication, professionalism and vigilance of Border Force officers, who work around the clock to keep dangerous drugs off our streets,’ said Home Office minister Jo White. ‘Every seizure prevents harm, disrupts organised crime and helps protect families and communities across the country. As criminal networks adapt and new threats emerge, our response will remain relentless. We will continue strengthening our borders, targeting organised crime and preventing harmful drugs from reaching our communities.’