INVESTIGATIONS are taking place today after a large number of dangerous knives were seized at Britain's biggest container port.

Richard Cornwell

INVESTIGATIONS are taking place today after a large number of dangerous knives were seized at Britain's biggest container port.

UK border agency officers found more than 350 Chinese knives with razor sharp blades in a container which arrived at Felixstowe from the USA.

Jim Jarvie, the agency's deputy head of detection for central England described the haul as a “significant amount”.

He said: “The UK Border Agency is committed to stopping any illegal weapons entering the UK through the ports and airports, playing a vital role in protecting our communities from the violence and corruption that always accompany this type of illegal activity.

“Credit must be given to the officer's detection skills, without which these very nasty weapons would have reached the streets of our cities and into the hands of criminals.”

The 384 knives were six to eight inches long.

They were branded as lethal weapons and seized under the Customs and Excise Management Act.

Further enquiries are ongoing into the incident following the seizure, which was made on Monday.

Anyone with information about illegal activity which they suspect may be linked to smuggling should call the 24 hour hotline 0800 59 5000.