A MULTI-MILLION pound haul of cocaine smuggled into the country in a lorry has been seized at Harwich International Port.

Border Force officers discovered 65 kilograms of the Class A drug on Wednesday January 27 following a search of the vehicle.

The lorry had arrived at the port on a ferry from the Hook of Holland and was pulling a trailer carrying soft drinks.

An Italian national, Roberto Gianneta, 38, has been charged with importing a Class A drug.

He is in custody and will appear at Chelmsford Crown Court on Thursday February 25.

Charlotte Mann, Border Force assistant director at Harwich, said: “By making this seizure Border Force officers have prevented a substantial quantity of dangerous drugs from ending up on the streets of the UK and have put a serious dent in the profits of the criminals involved in this type of smuggling.

“Forensic tests are being done to determine the purity of the drugs seized and therefore their value, but it is safe to say that this is a multi-million pound detection.

“Working with our colleagues at the NCA we are determined to do all we can to stop drug traffickers.

“Those convicted of drug importation offences face considerable prison sentences.”

Following the seizure, the investigation has been passed to the National Crime Agency.