TWO men from Bradford are among three charged tonight with drug trafficking following the seizure of more than a tonne of cocaine off the Irish coast.
The UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) said the drugs haul had an estimated street value of more than £100m.
John Powell, aged 70, of Airedale Mews, Silsden, Benjamin Mellor, 35, of Mornington Villas, Manningham, and 28-year-old Thomas Britteon, from north east Lincolnshire, face a single charge of trafficking of cocaine on a ship at sea with intent to import the drug.
The yacht they were travelling on, called Makayabella, was intercepted by armed Irish naval officers about 200 to 300 miles west/south-west of Mizen Head during the early hours of Tuesday.
They appeared before a special sitting of Cork City Court tonight and will appear again in court on Thursday.
The seizure is believed to be one of the largest drug finds at sea in Europe this year.
NCA investigators charged Stephen Powell, 47, of Netherfield Road, Guiseley, with conspiracy to import cocaine.
He is due to appear at Leeds Magistrates’ Court tomorrow morning.
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