Albanian nationals charged after huge cocaine seizure at Tilbury super port

SEIZURE: More than £1million of cocaine found in a container at Tilbury (NCA)

MORE than £1million of cocaine was found hidden inside a refrigerated container at the Tilbury "super port."

Around 16 kgs of the class A drug were found by port police at the London Container Terminal in Tilbury, Essex.

A National Crime Agency (NCA) spokesman said: "NCA investigators were called in on Tuesday after port workers spotted suspicious activity and reported it to port police.

"Two men were later arrested by Border Force officers, who recovered around 16 kilos of cocaine from a refrigerated container which had arrived from Belize on 1 May.

"The drugs would likely have had a potential street value in excess of £1 million."

After being interviewed by NCA officers, Albanian nationals Mariglen Bajraktari, aged 20 and Romario Vukzaj, aged 23, both of no fixed abode, were charged with the possession and importation of a class A drugs.

They went before Chelmsford Magistrates today and were remanded in custody until their next appearance at Basildon Crown Court in June.

NCA Branch Commander Jacque Beer said: “We always encourage port workers to alert us to any suspicious activity that they see in the course of their duties.

“I’m delighted that on this occasion their vigilance has led to the seizure of a substantial amount of cocaine.”