Third Man Charged After 943kg of Cocaine Found in Banana Shipment at Southampton
The upcoming Crown Court hearing follows a seizure investigators say cut off major crime profits.
Overview
- NCA officials confirmed Saturday that Joshua Berry, 28, was charged with importing a Class A drug and producing a Class B drug.
- Border Force and the NCA found 943kg of cocaine hidden among banana pallets in a container that arrived from Nicaragua via Panama at Southampton Docks.
- Two men charged earlier in the probe are Andrew Smyth, 46, from Prenton, and Daniel Dumitru, 37, from Smethwick, both accused of importing a Class A drug.
- All three suspects have been remanded in custody and are due to appear at Southampton Crown Court on April 17.
- News reports estimate the haul’s street value at about £75m, and NCA branch commander Saju Sasikumar said the seizure denied an organised-crime group huge profits.