Tilbury Docks £70m cocaine haul leads to six men charged Published duration 22 July 2015

image copyright Metropolitan police image caption Blocks of cocaine were found in holdalls in the boot of a taxi

Six men have been charged after cocaine worth £70m destined for sale in London and the home counties was seized in Essex.

About 200kg (440lb) of "high-purity" cocaine was found in holdalls in the boot of a white taxi on the A1089 near Tilbury Docks at 02:00 BST on Tuesday.

The men were charged with conspiracy to import and supply controlled drugs.

They have been remanded in custody to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Thursday.

The charged men are:

John Parish, 29, of Fanton Chase, Wickford, Essex

Robert McGowan, 45, of no fixed address

Danny Hannaway, 24, of Lea Road, Grays, Essex

Greg Spiers, 47, of London Road, Billericay, Essex

Tony Rees, 31, of Cecil Avenue, Chafford Hundred, Essex

Neil Jacques, 40, of Avondale Road, Rayleigh, Essex

Officers from the Met's Special Intelligence Section (SIS) and Essex Police stopped a white van close to the docks and arrested the driver and a passenger.

More men were then found hiding in undergrowth nearby.