Two Lancashire men arrested after '£11 million' of cocaine seized in Dover

Two men from Lancashire have been arrested after 240kg of cocaine with a street value of '£11m' was seized at the Port of Dover.
By Sean Gleaves
Published 10th Sep 2020, 16:07 BST
Updated 10th Sep 2020, 16:55 BST
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Border Force officers found 240kg of cocaine concealed behind the steps of an empty British-registered coach which had arrived on a ferry from Calais at around 10am on Sunday (September 6).

Two men, aged 43 and 58, were detained at addresses in Darwen by National Crime Agency investigators today (September 10).

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They are now being questioned on suspicion of attempting to import Class A drugs.

NCA senior investigating officer Gary Fennelly said: "Our investigation into this significant seizure of Class A drugs continues with these arrests.

"We are determined to work with partners like Border Force to cut off the supply of class A drugs to our streets, and dismantle the organised criminal networks involved in their distribution."

Two men have already appeared in court charged in connection with the seizure.

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Mark Tucker, 53, from Longshaw Street, Blackburn, and Christopher Bullows, 50, from Lord Street, St Helens, have been remanded in custody to appear before Canterbury Crown Court on October 12.

Two men were detained at addresses in Darwen in connection with the seizure.Two men were detained at addresses in Darwen in connection with the seizure.
Two men were detained at addresses in Darwen in connection with the seizure.

They were both arrested with the coach on September 6.

Another cocaine haul was also discovered in Dover on the same day when officers searched a Slovenian-registered lorry that had arrived on a ferry from Calais at around 6.40am.

96kg of cocaine with a street value of around £4.3 million was found hidden within a pallet.

Bosnian nationals Miodrag Ivankovic, 44, and Mile Pajic, 45, both of no fixed UK address, were charged with attempted importation of a Class A drug following the seizure.

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They appeared at Folkestone Magistrates' Court on September 7 and were remanded in custody until their next appearance at Canterbury Crown Court on October 5.

Chris Philp, Minister for Immigration Compliance and the Courts, said: "These were both excellent seizures and prevented a substantial amount of lethal Class A drugs from reaching the UK's streets.

"Working with our partners at the NCA we will continue to do all we can to arrest and prosecute those involved in drug smuggling."