Man in court charged over £2 million ketamine seizure
A Wakefield man has been charged with importing £2m of ketamine.
Specialist detectives from the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Organised Crime Unit investigated the haul of the drug that was intercepted on its arrival into the UK.
The crate containing the boxes of ketamine hidden in expanding foam Joel Freeman, 45, of Woodlands Village, appeared at Leeds Magistrates Court today charged with conspiracy to fraudulently evade a prohibition on the importation of a Class B drug.
He was remanded in custody until a further hearing at Leeds Crown Court on September 11.
He was arrested in Wakefield on Tuesday during an operation led by YHROCU officers.
A 46-year-old man was also arrested in Leeds as part of the operation and has since been released under investigation.
Officers launched the investigation after checks by Border Force staff uncovered a total of 125kg of ketamine in five cardboard boxes hidden in expanding foam in a wooden crate sent to the UK from The
Netherlands.
The estimated street value of the drugs was £2.1 million.