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Cork cocaine: Four men charged over £100m drugs seizure Cork cocaine: Four men appear in court over £100m drugs seizure
(about 17 hours later)
Four British men have been charged with drugs offences after the seizure of more than a tonne of cocaine off the Irish coast on Tuesday. Four British men have appeared in court charged with drugs offences after the seizure of more than a tonne of cocaine off the Irish coast on Tuesday.
The drugs haul has an estimated street value of more than £100m, according to the UK's National Crime Agency (NCA).The drugs haul has an estimated street value of more than £100m, according to the UK's National Crime Agency (NCA).
It was seized when the Irish navy intercepted a yacht off the Cork coast. Three men arrested on board have been charged with drug trafficking in Cork.It was seized when the Irish navy intercepted a yacht off the Cork coast. Three men arrested on board have been charged with drug trafficking in Cork.
A fourth man in the UK has been charged with conspiracy to import cocaine.A fourth man in the UK has been charged with conspiracy to import cocaine.
The 47-year-old was arrested on Thursday, during an NCA follow-up operation in West Yorkshire. Stephen Powell, 47, of Netherfield Road, Guiseley, Leeds, was arrested on Thursday during a NCA follow-up operation in West Yorkshire.
He was charged by NCA investigators on Friday night and is expected to appear at Leeds Magistrates' Court on Saturday morning. He appeared at Leeds Magistrates' Court on Saturday, where he was remanded in custody.
The seizure is believed to be one of the largest drug finds at sea in Europe this year.The seizure is believed to be one of the largest drug finds at sea in Europe this year.
The three men who were arrested on board the yacht were brought before a special sitting of Cork City Court on Friday evening. Mr Powell's elderly father was among the three men who were arrested on board the yacht.
The accused are 70-year-old John Powell, with an address at Silsden, West Yorkshire, 28-year-old Thomas Britteon, from Bradford, and Benjamin Mellor, 34, from north east Lincolnshire. The trio were brought before a special sitting of Cork City Court on Friday evening.
The accused are 70-year-old John Powell, with an address at Airedale Mews, Silsden, West Yorkshire, 28-year-old Thomas Britteon, of Convamore Road, Grimsby, and Benjamin Mellor, 35, from Mornington Villas, Bradford.
All three face a single charge of trafficking of cocaine on a ship at sea with intent to import the drug.All three face a single charge of trafficking of cocaine on a ship at sea with intent to import the drug.
The yacht they were travelling on, called Makayabella, was intercepted about 200 - 300 miles west/south-west of Mizen Head during the early hours of Tuesday.The yacht they were travelling on, called Makayabella, was intercepted about 200 - 300 miles west/south-west of Mizen Head during the early hours of Tuesday.
Their vessel had been under "covert surveillance" by the Irish navy, who carried out a joint arrest operation with the Irish Revenue Customs Service and police (An Garda Síochána).Their vessel had been under "covert surveillance" by the Irish navy, who carried out a joint arrest operation with the Irish Revenue Customs Service and police (An Garda Síochána).
The Irish authorities were on acting on intelligence provided by the British NCA and the French customs service DNRED. The Irish authorities were acting on intelligence provided by the British NCA and the French customs service DNRED.
In a follow-up operation in West Yorkshire over the past three days, NCA investigators arrested two other British men, bringing the total number of people detained in the international operation to five. In its follow-up operation in West Yorkshire, NCA investigators also arrested a fifth man, aged 43.
A 43-year-old man who was arrested on Wednesday has since been released on bail, pending further inquiries. The fifth suspect was detained on Wednesday, but has since been released on bail, pending further inquiries.
The 47-year-old man, who has now been charged with conspiracy to import cocaine, was detained on Thursday.
The NCA also seized a motorboat, believed to be linked to the alleged drug trafficking operation, at a marina in Gwynedd, north Wales.The NCA also seized a motorboat, believed to be linked to the alleged drug trafficking operation, at a marina in Gwynedd, north Wales.
At Cork City Court on Friday evening, all three defendants were remanded in custody until Thursday 2 October, when they are due to appear again via video link.At Cork City Court on Friday evening, all three defendants were remanded in custody until Thursday 2 October, when they are due to appear again via video link.
The judge at Leeds Magistrates' Court remanded Stephen Powell in custody, to appear at the city's crown court on 13 October.