Darren Morris, 32, Mark Neville, 41, both of Preston, and Peter Hannigan, 49, of Kendal - have been charged with importing illegal drugs. The three are to appear before South Lakeland magistrates over the 140kg drug raid at the port of Harwich, Essex. The raid was the result of a long-running intelligence-gathering operation led by Cumbria Police with assistance from Lancashire Police and HM Customs.It is understood to be one of the biggest seizures yet made on the UK mainland.The consignment arrived via Holland and was destined for the streets of Britain, police said.Drugs were discovered when two vehicles were stopped and searched entering a port in the UK on Saturday morning.The drugs seizure was the result of an on-going investigation by officers from Cumbria Police headquarter's CID unit, assisted by Lancashire Constabulary and HM Customs and Revenue.Six men have been arrested after the haul was discovered when two cars were stopped and searched at a UK port yesterday morning.Police said it is one of the biggest mainland seizures ever made in the UK.Detective Chief Inspector Jeff Ashton, of Cumbria CID, said the port where the seizure was made cannot yet be identified for "operational reasons".He did say it was outside the Cumbria area and added that his force was now working with other police forces as a series of raids take place in Lancashire, Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire and others.Police said the Lancashire raids took place in Preston and Leyland.He said: "It was discovered when two vehicles were stopped and searched as they entered the UK from mainland Europe yesterday morning.
"At this stage I don't want to disclose further details of how or where the seizure took place."This is because six males have been arrested and they are in custody awaiting interview."There are also on-going operations with about five other forces to trace others suspected of being involved.
"A number of private and business addresses across the UK are being raided."
He added: "I am absolutely delighted with the success of this operation and the fact that we have prevented such a large quantity of cocaine from reaching the streets of Britain."
"At this stage I don't want to disclose further details of how or where the seizure took place."This is because six males have been arrested and they are in custody awaiting interview."There are also on-going operations with about five other forces to trace others suspected of being involved.
"A number of private and business addresses across the UK are being raided."
He added: "I am absolutely delighted with the success of this operation and the fact that we have prevented such a large quantity of cocaine from reaching the streets of Britain."
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