£3m cocaine haul seized by police

A haul of cocaine, believed to have a street value of up to £3 million, was seized following a crime squad operation, police said today.

Nine kilos of the class A drug were uncovered by the Eastern Region Special Operations Unit (Ersou) on Thursday.

The haul was seized after officers from Hertfordshire Constabulary's ANPR Intercept Team stopped a vehicle travelling on the M11 near Bishop's Stortford, and other officers from Ersou searched a property in London.

Following the discovery, Benson Offia, 43, of no fixed abode, was charged with possession with intent to supply a Class A drug.

He appeared at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court yesterday and was remanded to appear at Harlow Magistrates' Court tomorrow.

A 54-year-old man from London, who was also arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply a Class A drug, was bailed until next year.

Ersou is a regional crime squad that tackles serious and organised crime across Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridge and Essex force areas.

Its Deputy Head, Det Ch Insp Mark Lay, said: "I'm pleased Ersou has been able to recover such a large amount of drugs from within the eastern region.

"Ersou is committed to serving residents across the region and carries out proactive operations to tackle cross-border organised crime."