A 44-year-old man has appeared in court after 536kg of cocaine worth £53m was seized at London Gateway port by UK authorities.
A UK man has appeared in court after authorities seized 536 kilograms of cocaine valued at more than £53 million at a major UK shipping port.
Thomas Lee, 44, was arrested in Manchester following the discovery of the drugs at London Gateway port near Thurrock, Essex, on Friday 13 February. Investigators allege the cocaine shipment was being imported into the UK as part of a larger trafficking operation.
Lee has been charged with conspiracy to import Class A drugs. He also faces a separate charge linked to the alleged conspiracy to import 872 kilograms of cannabis in November 2025.
The defendant, who is from Ellerton near Howden in East Yorkshire, appeared before Leeds Magistrates’ Court, where he was remanded in custody. He is scheduled to appear at Leeds Crown Court on 16 March.
Ramona Senior, head of the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Organised Crime Unit, said the seizure represents a significant disruption to drug supply routes into the region. She added that coordinated work with UK Border Force played a key role in intercepting the shipment.
Authorities continue to investigate the broader network believed to be connected to the importation attempt.
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