Two men charged after 100kg of drugs found hidden in van at Port of Dover
13:21, 12 July 2023
Two men have been charged with drugs offences after almost 100kg of ketamine, cocaine and MDMA (ecstasy) were found in a van.
The vehicle, containing what is estimated to be worth more than £2 million in illegal substances, was stopped by Border Force at the Port of Dover on Saturday.
Specialist investigators searched the vehicle, which had arrived from France, finding 62kg of ketamine, 30kg of MDMA thought to comprise 300,000 ecstasy pills, and six kilos of cocaine hidden within a compartment in the roof.
Two men, aged 22 and 23, were arrested on suspicion of importing controlled drugs and taken into custody for questioning.
They were later charged with two counts of importing class A drugs and one count of importing class B drugs with intent to evade prohibition, and were remanded following a hearing at Folkestone Magistrates’ Court on Monday.
The operation was led by the Eastern Region Special Operations Unit (ERSOU), whose investigators were supported by Kent Police and the Metropolitan Police Service.
Dete Ch Insp Steve Dowty, from ERSOU’s regional organised crime unit, said: “This operation was a co-ordinated effort from several law enforcement agencies, which has prevented a significant amount of drugs from making its way into our communities.
“Illegal substances such as these are not only dangerous to those who take them, but they also fuel organised criminality across the country which is directly linked to violence, exploitation, and an array of other offending.
“We will continue to work closely with our partners to apprehend those involved in importing such goods and ensure drugs don’t make it onto our streets.”