A man from the Isle of Wight has been charged as part of a National Crime Agency investigation into the seizure of cocaine worth £10 million at Newhaven port in East Sussex in November 2019.
Jean-Pierre Labelle, 43, from Ashey Road in Ryde was initially arrested by NCA officers in March, but he was re-arrested on Saturday (June 27) and charged importing class A drugs the next day.
Following an appearance at Newport Magistrates on Monday (29) he was remanded in custody until his next appearance at Lewes Crown Court on July 27.
The NCA investigation follows a seizure made at Newhaven in the early hours of November 23 last year.
Border Force officers recovered 97 packages each containing approximately a kilo of cocaine from the back of a van carrying frozen fish.
The driver, 50-year-old James Satterley from Cookham in Maidenhead, was later charged with importing class A drugs. He now awaits trial.
NCA branch commander Peter Stevens said:
“Working with partners like Border Force we are determined to do all we can to disrupt and dismantle criminal networks involved in attempts to circumvent border controls.
“Illegal drugs are linked to violence on our streets and the exploitation of the vulnerable, that is why this type of crime is a priority for us.”
Tim Kingsberry, Border Force Regional Director, said:
“This was an excellent seizure by Border Force officers, who have prevented a large amount of lethal Class A drugs from reaching the UK’s streets.
“Alongside our law enforcement partners, we will continue to do all we can to disrupt the international trade in drug smuggling.”
Isle Of Wight Radio Child Of Wight Awards 2024 Nominations Now Open
Fire Service Issues Water Safety And Mud Rescue Advice For Isle Of Wight
New Online Cancer Support For Local Residents
Specialist Monitoring Equipment Now Installed At Leeson Road
West Wight Runner Jackie Follows PB Marathon Run With Eastenders Appearance
West Wight Pub Can Now Be Listed As 'Asset Of Community Value'
Royal Navy 'Bomb Squad' Called To Seaview Following Ordnance Alert
Automated Gates Arrive On Wightlink’s FastCat Foot Passenger Route
Help Keep Isle Of Wight Streets Neat – Bring Your Bin In
Two Passengers Injured Following Bus Crash In Ryde
Late Night Reports Of Collision Spark Extensive Land, Sea And Air Search
Islanders Taking On London Marathon Today For Local Charities
Four Men Arrested Following Rogue Trader Activities In East Cowes
Rugby Players Set To Scale Great Heights For Teddy
Drug Driving, Domestic Abuse And Stalking Among Arrests Made As Police Target Isle Of Wight Criminals
Work Begins On ‘Monumental’ Mural Project At Historic Columbine Building
More Acts Added To Isle Of Wight Festival Line-Up
St Mary’s Vaccination Hub Gets Ready For Spring Covid-19 Vaccinations
Twenty Isle Of Wight Pubs Under Threat As Stonegate Issues Profit Warning
Fundraiser Launched As Kezi's Kindness Founder Diagnosed With Incurable Cancer
