Co Armagh man held over suspected conspiracy as anti-gang unit swoops on 79lb of cocaine

Three men have been arrested and cocaine with a potential street value of around £3 million has been seized as part of an National Crime Agency (NCA) investigation into drugs supply, the agency said tonight.
By Adam Kula
Published 24th Apr 2020, 21:37 BST
An NCA officerAn NCA officer
An NCA officer

NCA investigators, supported by Border Force officers, said they recovered 36 kilos (79 pounds) of cocaine from what is believed to be a purpose-built hide in a lorry that had travelled on a ferry from France into Dover at around 10pm last night.

The lorry driver, a 50-year-old man from Magheralin in County Armagh, Northern Ireland, was arrested on suspicion of conspiring to import class A drugs.

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Shortly afterwards NCA officers arrested a second man in Kent for the same offence.

The 56-year-old from Kingswood, Kent, was stopped near Dover.

Today at around midday a 40-year-old from River near Dover was detained at a haulage yard in the town, also on suspicion of conspiring to import class A drugs.

As part of their investigation NCA officers, working jointly with colleagues from the Police Service of Northern Ireland, have searched properties in Co Londonderry and Co Armagh.

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All three men remain in custody and will be questioned by NCA investigators.

NCA regional head of investigations Gerry McLean said: “This was a significant seizure of class A drugs which would have generated a large amount of profit for criminals involved in drug supply.

“Crime groups involved in drugs supply are also involved in violence and exploitation, so cutting off their profits reduces the harm they can cause for our communities.

“Working with partners like Border Force and the PSNI we are determined to do all we can to disrupt and dismantle gangs involved in drug trafficking.”

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The NCA, sometimes dubbed “the British FBI”, are a high-level law enforcement body targeting organised criminals.

Earlier this month the Agency’s National Strategic Assessment of Serious and Organised Crime stated that drugs are linked to a substantial proportion of cases of serious violence, much of which is perpetrated by urban street gangs.

Dave Smith, Border Force regional director, said: “We are determined to stop illegal drugs from reaching our streets. Drugs are intrinsically linked to organised criminals who trade in violence and exploitation, preying on individuals and impacting our communities.

“We will continue to work with the NCA to bring drugs smugglers to justice.”

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