THREE men have been charged with drugs offences after police seized suspected cocaine, with an estimated street value of £5 million.

North Yorkshire Police say officers from the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Organised Crime Unit (YHROCU) seized almost 50 kilos of suspected cocaine at the weekend.

Officers, assisted by North Yorkshire Police and West Yorkshire Police, stopped a vehicle on the A1(M) at Scotch Corner at around 9am on Saturday morning (November 30).

About 24 kilos of what is believed to be cocaine was recovered and one man was arrested.

Further searches of a property in Easingwold resulted in approximately 25 kilos of suspected cocaine being recovered and two further males arrested.

A 31-year-old man of Henfield Way, Easingwold, A 20-year-old man of Beechburn Crescent, Roby, Merseyside, and a 49-year-old, of Childwall Lane, Roby, Merseyside were charged with possession with intent to supply Class A drugs.

All three were remanded to appear before magistrates in Leeds on Monday where they were further remanded to appear before Leeds Crown Court on 3 January.

Detective Chief Inspector Fionna McEwan of North Yorkshire Police said: “Disrupting organised crime remains a foremost priority for North Yorkshire Police. We are committed to disrupting the offenders and taking those responsible off the streets.

“We urge anyone with information to continue to report information about suspected drug dealing in their area. It’s vital in helping us piece together the bigger picture.

“No matter how insignificant you think the information is, please call us. And if you don’t want to speak to us, you can pass information anonymously to Crimestoppers.”