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Man appears in court after £18.5 million cocaine seizure

NCA Numerous green parcels of cocaine, with clear plastic bagsNCA
The drugs have an estimated street value of £18.5m

A man has appeared in court after the seizure of the largest amount of Class A drugs in Northern Ireland.

The National Crime Agency (NCA) and Border Force seized 185kg of suspected cocaine, worth an estimated street value of £18.5m, from a lorry at Belfast Port.

Bulgarian national Giorgio Panchukov, 55, was arrested by the NCA after the authorities seized the consignment during checks on Monday.

He appeared at Belfast Magistrates' Court on Wednesday, charged with aiding and abetting the importation of Class A drugs.

Lorry was destined for Scotland

He also faces further counts of possessing and being concerned in the supply of cocaine.

During the brief hearing Mr Panchukov, with an address in the Bulgarian city of Burgas, indicated that he understood the charges.

An NCA officer confirmed the drugs were stashed in the container area of a lorry, which was set to board a ferry to Scotland.

No application for bail was made, but defence barrister Sean O'Hare requested an assessment of the value of the seized drugs.

District Judge Steven Keown adjourned the case and remanded Mr Panchukov in custody until 18 June.

A man with short grey hair and a grey beard, wearing a blue suit jacket and tie with white shirt, he's stood on a street with a large white building behind him, several parked black cars and a large tree
David Cunningham says the NCA believes this has been the largest seizure in Northern Ireland

Drugs 'beneath floor of trailer'

David Cunningham, NCA branch commander for Northern Ireland, said the "significant quantity" of suspected cocaine was discovered at about 16:00 BST on Monday.

"Beneath the floor of the trailer, under a metal floor, were a number of concealments where the drugs had been pushed in and hidden," he told BBC News NI.

The NCA believe the lorry arrived from Cherbourg into Dublin, before making its way to Belfast Port, destined for Great Britain, he said.

Mr Cunningham described the seizure as a "huge success".

"It's an enormous seizure, we believe its the biggest seizure in Northern Ireland," he added.

"It's prevented those drugs reaching the streets and causing more harm and violence."

'Largest amount since records began'

The deputy director of Border Force NI said officers seized "the largest amount of drugs in Northern Ireland since records began".

"Our officers are delivering on the government's mission to secure our borders and keep our streets safe," John-Jo Oldham added.

"We work in close partnership with the NCA to ensure those who threaten our border security face the full force of the law."