Monkey found in car as police seize crack cocaine near prison
Police discovered a monkey inside a car after stopping a vehicle and finding suspected Class A drugs during an operation outside a Doncaster prison.
Last week, police stopped a car outside of HMP Moorlands, near Doncaster, as part of an operation to search vehicles of visitors heading to the prison.
Police said the car was “noticeably trying to avoid contact with our officers”, so they conducted a search.
Upon searching the vehicle police discovered Class A drugs - believed to be crack cocaine.
However, officers also found a one-year-old marmoset monkey, believed to be a person's pet.
The monkey was safely removed from the vehicle and transported to an animal sanctuary, with the RSPCA now carrying out further enquiries.
Following the search of the vehicle, two women in their 20s were arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply drugs and brought into custody.
Police said it is estimated that up to 5,000 primates are currently being kept as pets in the UK.
From 6 April 2026, new legislation will come into force which will require all private keepers of primates in England to obtain a specialist primate licence from their local authority.
Failure to do so is a criminal offence, and could result in an unlimited fine or jail.