Two individuals from Orpington have been charged with drug smuggling offences following the discovery of £3.6 million worth of cocaine on a flight arriving at Heathrow Airport.

Border Force officers made the alarming discovery of 45 kilograms of cocaine concealed within three suitcases aboard a flight originating from Montego Bay, Jamaica, which touched down at Heathrow on Monday evening (April 29).

Upon the interception, National Crime Agency (NCA) investigators were swiftly deployed to interview three individuals connected to the incident.

Among those charged are 63-year-old Barry Costello, a resident of Mountfield Way in Orpington, and a 17-year-old from Orpington, whose identity remains protected due to his age. Both individuals have been charged with importing class-A drugs.

Additionally, 72-year-old Anthony Cameron, residing on Millmead Road in Birmingham, faces similar charges in connection with the case.

All three suspects are slated to appear at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday (May 1) to address the charges brought against them.

NCA Senior Investigating Officer Ian Truby emphasized the gravity of the seizures, stating, "These were significant seizures, and in making them we have denied a significant amount of criminal profit.

He further added, "The NCA continues to work closely with our partners at Border Force to protect the public and prevent class A drugs from reaching the streets of the UK."

This latest development underscores the collaborative efforts between law enforcement agencies to curb the influx of illegal narcotics into the country, safeguarding communities from the pernicious effects of drug trafficking.

Further details surrounding the case are anticipated to emerge as legal proceedings progress.

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