Men charged over £1.8m drugs seizure

Police say 400kg of cannabis was found

Three men have been charged with drugs offences after cannabis with a street value of £1.8m was seized in Bolton, Greater Manchester.

West Midlands Police revealed the drugs were discovered after a van was tracked into Britain from Belgium.

Detective Chief Inspector John Hesketh, of West Midlands Police's Force Crime Unit, said intelligence suggested that the 400kg of cannabis had been destined for cities in the West Midlands and northern England.

"This is a significant seizure, certainly the largest amount of cannabis recovered in a single operation by the Force Crime Unit," he said.

Police believe the drugs were destined for street sellers

The seizure was made in a major operation involving customs officers, the National Criminal Intelligence Service and Interpol.

Mr Hesketh added: "The intelligence we have gathered strongly suggests this consignment would otherwise have ended up being sold by street dealers in cities such as Birmingham and Manchester."

The consignment, contained in 240 vacuum-packed sachets, was found in a Mercedes van which had entered the UK by ferry at Dover.

Two men from Bolton, aged 28 and 45, and a Belgian national have been remanded in custody at Birmingham Magistrates Court after being charged with possession of cannabis with intent to supply.