A man has made a court appearance following a historic seizure of cocaine, marking the largest confiscation of Class A drugs ever recorded in Northern Ireland. The National Crime Agency (NCA) and Border Force officials took action against a lorry at Belfast Port, where they discovered a staggering 185 kilograms of suspected cocaine. This significant haul holds an estimated street value of approximately £18.5 million, drawing attention to the ongoing battle against drug trafficking in the region.

The individual implicated in this alarming incident is Giorgio Panchukov, a 55-year-old Bulgarian national. He was apprehended by the NCA after authorities carried out checks on the lorry on Monday. Following this, he appeared before Belfast Magistrates' Court on Wednesday, facing serious charges that include aiding and abetting the importation of Class A drugs. In addition to this, he is also charged with possessing cocaine and being involved in its supply.

During the brief court hearing, Mr. Panchukov, who is registered at an address in the Bulgarian city of Burgas, acknowledged that he understood the charges against him. An officer from the NCA shed light on the specifics of the seizure, revealing that the cocaine was cleverly concealed within the container area of the lorry, which was originally scheduled to board a ferry to Scotland. Despite the gravity of the charges, no bail application was made on his behalf. However, defence barrister Sean O'Hare requested an assessment of the seized drugs' estimated value.

District Judge Steven Keown presided over the case, deciding to adjourn proceedings and remand Mr. Panchukov in custody until June 18, allowing for further investigations to take place.

Commenting on the case, David Cunningham, the NCA branch commander for Northern Ireland, emphasized the significance of the seizure, noting that the drugs were found around 4:00 PM BST on Monday. He stated, “Beneath the floor of the trailer, under a metal floor, were a number of concealments where the drugs had been pushed in and hidden.” This level of sophistication in drug smuggling highlights the challenges faced by law enforcement agencies in tackling organized crime.

According to Cunningham, the lorry made its journey from Cherbourg, France, into Dublin, Ireland, before ultimately arriving at Belfast Port, where it was intercepted. He referred to the seizure as a "huge success," underscoring its importance in preventing a substantial quantity of dangerous drugs from reaching the streets and contributing to further harm and violence within communities. “It’s an enormous seizure, and we believe it is the biggest seizure in Northern Ireland since records began,” he added, highlighting the ongoing efforts of the NCA to disrupt drug trafficking operations in the region.