FIVE men from Bolton have appeared in court facing drugs charges in connection with the seizure of heroin, cocaine, amphetamines and cannabis with an estimated street value of £20million.
Gary Scott Fenton, aged 24, from Howcroft Close, Bolton; Greg Michael Rothwell, aged 33, from Ainsworth Road, Little Lever; Hayden Jays, aged 30, from Second Avenue, Little Lever; Paul Michael Geraghty, aged 22, from Georgina Court, Morris Green; and Ian Longworth, aged 43, from Bridge Street, Kearsley, all appeared at Bolton Magistrates Court on Saturday.
Each defendant is facing four charges under the Misuse of Drugs Act.
The men were arrested last Wednesday after nearly 250kg of the Class A and B drugs were discovered in holdalls packed inside chemical drums in the back of a lorry stopped at Dover.
Customs officers swooped on the wagon as it came out of the Channel Tunnel.
At the same time, several homes in Little Lever were raided as part of Operation Dispatch, a seven-month Police and Customs and Excise investigation.
Each defendant spoke only to confirm their names and addresses during the brief hearing at Bolton Magistrates Court.
The men were remanded in custody until Friday, June 7.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article