Three men from Bermondsey, including two brothers, have appeared in court charged with being "knowingly concerned" in bringing around a tonne of cannabis into the UK.

Kevin Downes, 55, John Downes, 56, and 62-year-old Brian Chapman were arrested after officers from the National Crime Agency and Kent and Essex Police discovered the drugs at a rented industrial unit on the Isle of Sheppey.

The unit was located on the Lower Road in Minster.

John Downes was arrested at the unit, the other two nearby.

The three were charged with drug importation offences and appeared before Medway magistrates on Monday, where they were remanded in custody until their next appearance at the Old Bailey on October 31.

A fourth man arrested during the same operation has been bailed pending further enquiries.

Simon Gower, branch operations manager for the National Crime Agency, said: "We believe this seizure represents a major disruption to an organised crime network intent on bringing illegal drugs into London and the wider UK market.

"The cannabis had a value to that crime group of around £1million, but the street value could potentially have been £3million, and no doubt the substantial profits gleaned from that would have been re-invested into further criminality. Our investigation continues."