COCAINE with a street value of £1million has been uncovered in a lorry at Harwich Port.

Border Force officers at Harwich International Port discovered 17kgs of the Class A drug shortly before 7am on Monday May 18 after searching a lorry that had come on a ferry from the Hook of Holland.

The lorry was pulling a trailer carrying a mixed load of legitimate goods including domestic cleaning products, car tyres and car stereos.

Charlotte Mann, Border Force assistant director at Harwich, said: “By making this seizure, worth an estimated £1m, Border Force officers have prevented a substantial quantity of dangerous class A drugs from ending up on the streets of the UK and put a serious dent in the profits of the criminals involved in this type of smuggling.

“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 by Border Force, the investigation has been passed to the National Crime Agency.

Anyone with information about activity they suspect may be linked to smuggling can call the hotline on 0800 59 5000.

n A 52-year-old Dutch man, Richard Jan Van Altena, has pleaded not guilty with importing a Class A drug.

He appeared at Chelmsford Magistrates Court on Wednesday where he entered a not guilty plea and was remanded in custody to appear at Chelmsford Crown Court on 27 July.