Heroin found in National Archives file

A sealed package containing heroin was found in an 80-year-old Foreign Office file at the National Archives, its managers have said.

The Class A drug was filed with a document from the British Consulate in Cairo about a 1928 court case.

The off-white powder, discovered by a member of the public who asked to see the file, was sent for analysis.

And having been confirmed as heroin, the substance was handed over to the Metropolitan Police.

The pouch - which contained less than a gram of heroin in 19 sachets - has been replaced with a photo and the file is now back on public display.