A huge stash of cocaine worth £33 million - hidden under the guise of onion rings - has been uncovered by Border Force officers.

Investigators from the National Crime Agency (NCA) have charged a Polish lorry driver for attempting to smuggle drugs into Kent.

Piotr Perzenowski appeared at Folkestone Magistrates’ Court yesterday morning and was remanded to appear before crown court next month.

The 30-year-old was intercepted at the UK inbound zone in Coquelles, France, on Thursday evening.

In total, 418kg of cocaine was discovered in a cover load of frozen onion rings.

The Class A drugs have a street value of £33 million.

NCA branch commander Mark Howes said: “This was a really significant amount of drugs taken out of circulation.

'This was a really significant amount of drugs taken out of circulation...'

“The seizure will deprive the organised crime group responsible for them of profit which would have fuelled more offending.

“Working with our partners such as Border Force we will continue to fight the Class A drugs threat in our mission to protect the public.”

Perzenowski will appear at Canterbury Crown Court on December 13.

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