A man from Berkshire has been charged by National Crime Agency investigators following a seizure of almost 100 kilos of cocaine at Newhaven port in East Sussex.

The haul was discovered concealed in a load of frozen fish in the rear of a refrigerated van searched by Border Force as it came off a ferry in the early hours of yesterday morning (Saturday 23 November).

Officers recovered 97 packages containing approximately a kilo of cocaine each. The drugs have now been taken away for further analysis, but if cut and sold at street level it is likely the haul would have had a potential value of around £10 million. The driver, 50-year-old James Satterley from Kings Lane, Cookham in Maidenhead, was questioned by NCA officers and charged with importing class A drugs. He has been remanded in custody to appear before Brighton magistrates on Monday.

NCA Senior Investigating Officer Paul Morris said:“NCA officers are working alongside Border Force, Sussex Police, Thames Valley Police and the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit to investigate this seizure and the circumstances around it.

“Working with partners we are determined to do all we can to disrupt the organised crime groups involved in the large-scale importation of class A drugs, which fuel serious violence and impact some of the most vulnerable members of our society. Making seizures like this is an important part of that work.”