TWO brothers have been arrested and charged in connection with a seizure of almost 100 kilos of cocaine in a refrigerated van carrying fish at Newhaven port two years ago.

The cocaine was found by border force staff and estimated to be worth ten million pounds when it was found in November 2019.

Michael Keating, 53, of Uxbridge, London, and Matthew Keating, 46, of Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, were both arrested on Thursday, December 2.

After being charged with conspiring to import class A drugs, they both appeared before Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court yesterday. They will both now appear at Isleworth Crown Court in London at a later date.

Michael Keating was also charged with possessing criminal property, in connection with cash estimated to be around £100,000 found by National Crime Agency (NCA) officers.

Three other people have already been charged in connection with the case and await trial.

Martin Matthews, senior investigating officer for NCA, said: “It has been a long and complex investigation, but clearly these arrests and charges are an important step.

The Argus: There was 97 kilos of cocaineThere was 97 kilos of cocaine

“This was a significant seizure of cocaine which, had it not been stopped, would have ended up in the hands of gangs involved in street violence and exploitation.

“Working with our law enforcement colleagues we are determined to do all we can to disrupt and dismantle the criminal networks involved in transporting class A drugs into the UK.”

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