Man in court after discovery of £1m cocaine

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twenty kilos of cocaine found inside a van at Belfast PortImage source, NCA

A man arrested after £1m worth of cocaine was discovered in his van at Belfast port 'thought he was transporting cash', a court has heard.

Laethian McCalla, 39, was detained after drugs were found inside a vehicle's fuel tank.

The seizure was described as one of the biggest in recent years by law enforcement in NI.

McCalla, of Arps Road, Wolverhampton, faces a charge of possessing Class A drugs with intent to supply.

His vehicle was stopped by National Crime Agency (NCA) officers as it arrived on a ferry from Birkenhead, a court heard on Wednesday.

'Tip of the iceberg'

Belfast Magistrates' Court heard the van was taken to a compound where x-ray equipment was used during a 14-hour search operation.

"The vehicle was completely ripped apart, and 20 kilos of cocaine were found secreted in one of the fuel (tanks)," an NCA officer said.

Although the drugs have an estimated street value of at least £1m, he suggested it could be "the tip of the iceberg".

McCalla was said to have admitted making previous journeys to Northern Ireland, but denied knowing anything about the drugs haul.

Defence solicitor Pearse MacDermott told the court: "It's accepted the items were heavily secreted in the van, but he thought he was driving cash."

Bail was opposed amid claims the accused is connected to an organised crime gang, and was paid £1,500 to deliver the consignment.

But Mr MacDermott argued that McCalla provided a full explanation of his intended route from Wolverhampton to Dungannon, County Tyrone.

"There are more sinister forces at work behind this, he was being used by other parties," he argued.

Refusing bail, however, District Judge Fiona Bagnall cited the risk of re-offending.

"By his own admission this isn't the first time he's undertaken this venture," she said.

McCalla was remanded in custody to appear again in four weeks time.