Belfast: Man seems in court docket after £18.5 million cocaine seizure

A person has gave the impression in court docket after the seizure of the most important quantity of Class A medicine in Northern Ireland.

The National Crime Agency (NCA) and Border Force seized 185kg of suspected cocaine, value an estimated side road price of £18.5m, from a lorry at Belfast Port.

Bulgarian nationwide Giorgio Panchukov, 55, used to be arrested by means of the NCA after the government seized the consignment all over assessments on Monday.

He gave the impression at Belfast Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, charged with helping and abetting the importation of Class A medicine.

He additionally faces additional counts of possessing and worrying within the provide of cocaine.

During the transient listening to Mr Panchukov, with an deal with within the Bulgarian town of Burgas, indicated that he understood the fees.

An NCA officer showed the medicine had been stashed within the container space of a lorry, which used to be set to board a ferry to Scotland.

No software for bail used to be made, however defence barrister Sean O’Hare asked an evaluation of the price of the seized medication.

District Judge Steven Keown adjourned the case and remanded Mr Panchukov in custody till 18 June.

David Cunningham, NCA department commander for Northern Ireland, stated the “significant quantity” of suspected cocaine used to be found out at about 16:00 BST on Monday.

“Beneath the floor of the trailer, under a metal floor, were a number of concealments where the drugs had been pushed in and hidden,” he instructed BBC News NI.

The NCA imagine the lorry arrived from Cherbourg into Dublin, earlier than making its method to Belfast Port, destined for Great Britain, he stated.

Mr Cunningham described the seizure as a “huge success”.

“It’s an enormous seizure, we believe its the biggest seizure in Northern Ireland,” he added.

“It’s prevented those drugs reaching the streets and causing more harm and violence.”

The deputy director of Border Force NI stated officials seized “the largest amount of drugs in Northern Ireland since records began”.

“Our officers are delivering on the government’s mission to secure our borders and keep our streets safe,” John-Jo Oldham added.

“We work in close partnership with the NCA to ensure those who threaten our border security face the full force of the law.”