A fifth man has been charged over the discovery of a multi-million pound cannabis shipment.

Police found drugs with an estimated street value of up to £10.2 million hidden beneath packets of rabbit hay in a lorry stopped near the Dartford Crossing, in Dartford, at about 9am in May 2016.

On Thursday, January 25, officers arrested 57-year-old Mark Owens at a pub in Hornchurch, Essex.

Owens, of Beach Road in Clacton, Essex, has since been charged with conspiracy to supply cannabis. He appeared before Medway magistrates today.

He was remanded in custody and will next appear at Woolwich Crown Court on Friday, February 23.

His co-defendants are Anthony Morris, 57, of Main Road in Sutton-at-Hone, Dartford; Andrew Badland, 37, of Porters Avenue in Dagenham, Essex; Kevin Howell, 55, of Benskins Lane in Romford, Essex; and Paul Seabrook, 51, of Kendal Croft in Hornchurch, Essex, who were all charged with conspiracy to supply cannabis in August 2017.