An Orpington man has been charged after 50 kilos of Class A drugs linked to the Encrochat network were found in a removals truck. 

Alfred Rumbold, 64, was one of three men arrested following a joint operation between British and Dutch police into a transport firm allegedly involved in drug trafficking.

Brian Wright, from Folkestone, was detained by Dutch police as he slept in his removals lorry north of Utrecht.

The drugs – 30 kilos of heroin, 20 kilos of cocaine and three kilos of MDMA - were recovered from the rear of the truck.

If sold in the UK they would have had a potential street value of £3.2 million.

Shortly afterwards NCA officers moved in to arrest Marj Youell, 63, and Rumbold at their homes in Clacton, Essex, and Orpington.

Officers searching Wright’s home recovered a hand gun, ammunition and £10,000 in cash.

All three men have since been charged on suspicion of importing class A drugs.

The investigation forms part of Operation Venetic, which has seen hundreds of people arrested in the UK following the infiltration of the encrypted communications platform Encrochat.

National Crime Age branch commander Peter Stevens said: “This operation has prevented millions of  pounds of dangerous class A drugs from reaching the UK, where they would have been sold on by gangs involved in violence and exploitation.

“It demonstrates the value of international co-operation in combatting organised crime.

“Our investigation into the circumstances surrounding this seizure, and those suspected of being behind it, continues.”