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Arrests as £70m cocaine haul seized near Tilbury Docks Tilbury Docks £70m cocaine haul leads to six men charged
(about 9 hours later)
Eight people have been arrested after cocaine worth some £70m, destined for sale in London and the home counties, was seized in Essex. Six men have been charged after cocaine worth £70m destined for sale in London and the home counties was seized in Essex.
About 200kg (440lb) of "high-purity" cocaine was found in holdalls in the boot of a white taxi on the A1089 near Tilbury Docks at 02:00 BST on Tuesday.About 200kg (440lb) of "high-purity" cocaine was found in holdalls in the boot of a white taxi on the A1089 near Tilbury Docks at 02:00 BST on Tuesday.
The driver, a 29-year-old man from Essex, was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to import drugs and conspiracy to supply controlled drugs. The men were charged with conspiracy to import and supply controlled drugs.
Seven other people were also detained. They have been remanded in custody to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Thursday.
Officers from the Met's Special Intelligence Section (SIS) and Essex Police stopped a white van close to the docks and arrested the driver, 45, of no fixed address, and a male passenger, 24, from Essex. The charged men are:
'Massive amount' Officers from the Met's Special Intelligence Section (SIS) and Essex Police stopped a white van close to the docks and arrested the driver and a passenger.
Both were detained on suspicion of conspiracy to import drugs and conspiracy to supply controlled drugs. More men were then found hiding in undergrowth nearby.
Three Essex men, aged 31, 40 and 47, found hiding in undergrowth nearby, were arrested for the same alleged offences.
Later in the day two properties in Essex were raided.
A 30-year-old woman from Essex was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply a Class A drug and an 18-year-old man from Essex was arrested on suspicion of concealing property and possession with intent to supply a Class A drug.
All eight suspects remain in custody in east London.
Det Insp Andy Whitewood from the SIS, said: "We've seized a massive amount of cocaine which we believe would have made organised criminals in excess of £70m had it reached the street-level sellers that it was intended for.
"The vast majority of these drugs would have been destined for the streets of London."