Cocaine 'falls off back of a Boeing'

Six people were being questioned by police about the biggest ever seizure of cocaine in Britain. More than £32 million of the drug was dumped out of the back of a Boeing 707 cargo plane as it landed at Southend airport in Essex.

The cocaine, weighing 500 kilos, was immediately seized by Customs officers. Five air crew and one airport worker were arrested for questioning.

A Customs spokesman said: "This was the largest ever seizure of cocaine in the UK.

"We are pleased to have made such a significant seizure."

The Boeing landed at 9pm, having travelled from the Caribbean via the Canary Islands.

The cocaine was dumped out of the plane in six huge suitcases as the plane taxied along the runway.

Customs officers seized the drugs and impounded the 707.

The suitcases were so large they needed three officers to lift each one. The six people arrested were all believed to be men, but their nationality was not yet known.

They were transported to London, where they were due to be interviewed this morning.