Two men have been caught attempting to smuggle around £3m worth of cocaine into the UK.
Both men are charged with conspiracy to import Class A drugs, after police found the substance inside a lorry at Dover at 10pm on Friday night (24 April).
Gary Sloan, 50, from County Armagh, and Jason Bunce, 57, from Kent, are due to appear at Canterbury Magistrates' Court today.
Another 40-year-old man from Dover was arrested in connection to the incident, but was later released under investigation.
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Officers from the National Crime Agency (NCA) and Border Force investigated the truck and found 36kg of cocaine. The vehicle is believed to be purpose built.
The NCA's regional head of investigations, Gerry McLean, said: "This was a significant seizure of class A drugs which would have generated a large amount of profit for criminals involved in drug supply.
"Crime groups involved in drugs supply are also involved in violence and exploitation, so cutting off their profits reduces the harm they can cause for our communities. Working with partners like Border Force and the PSNI, we are determined to do all we can to disrupt and dismantle gangs involved in drug trafficking."
The BBC reported that other properties in County Londonderry and County Armagh are being searched as part of the investigation.
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It comes after the price of cocaine is reported to have skyrocketed amid the coronavirus pandemic, with one dealer telling Sky News that the cost has risen from £36,000 per kilo to £40,000 per kilo.
The same dealer also revealed that, as people stay inside more and binge watch TV shows instead of hitting the clubs, many of his clients are buying more cannabis, as opposed to party drugs.
Interestingly, though, before the directive to stay at home was issued, some dealers had actually reduced their prices. According to that same report, some drug dealers were offering discounts before the lockdown was in place in order to secure their own income in these uncertain times.
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One sent a text message to his customers suggesting that cocaine even helped battle the virus. It read: "CORONA VACCINE SPECIAL.
"Breaking news, this just in. Not much time left until we can't deliver anymore to you, given the recent circumstances. Call now while there's time to make sure you have enough vaccinations to last you the imminent quarantine. 2 vaccines for £100, 3 vaccines for £140, 4 vaccines for £180. Stay healthy."
We're guessing that it's not a clinically proven vaccine, so don't get your hopes up.
Featured Image Credit: PATopics: uk news