Cocaine seized at North East airport; Two charged over pounds 150,000 haul.

Byline: Paul James Chief Reporter

CUSTOMS officials found pounds 150,000 of cocaine on a flight to Newcastle Airport from Cameroon. And police revealed yesterday two Nigerian nationals have been charged following the discovery of 2kg of the Class A drug at the airport.

UK Border Agency officers detected the drugs from a flight arriving into Newcastle from Cameroon via Paris on Wednesday last week.

The pounds 150,000 stash was found in the lining of a suitcase after officers searched the baggage on board the flight.

Chinaemerem Callistus Ukwanna Igboanusi, 25, of Tamworth Road, Fenham, Newcastle, has been charged with attempting to smuggle the Class A drug into the UK.

Prince Tims Odunze, 30, from Ashton under Lyne, near Manchester, has been charged with conspiracy to smuggle drugs.

Igboanusi appeared before Newcastle Magistrates' Court on Friday last week, where he was remanded in custody for seven days.

Odunze, who arrived at Newcastle Airport the day after Igboanusi, on Thursday last week, having travelled the same route, appeared before Newcastle Magistrates on Saturday and was also remanded in custody.

Dave Gostelow, spokesman for HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), said: "This is an excellent result and sends out a clear message that regional airports like Newcastle are not a soft touch for drug smuggling.

"We will continue to work with our partners in the UK Border Agency to tackle smugglers who attempt to bring these dangerous drugs into the UK."

John Kinghorn, assistant director of the United Kingdom Border Force, said: "This haul demonstrates we are continuing to do everything we can to reduce the devastating effects of Class A drugs in our communities.

"This is a serious offence and we would strongly encourage anyone with information relating to smuggled goods to contact the Customs Hotline on 0800 595000 or email [e-mail]"

The cocaine is the second major drugs haul recovered at the airport this month.

Last week steroids with a street value of pounds 50,000 were seized at Newcastle Airport after they were found stashed in a suitcase.

Customs and excise officials searching a wheelie suitcase found it contained 20kg of an illegal form of testosterone used for bodybuilding - the equivalent of several thousand doses.

Rajput Kaleem Uddin, 38, a Pakistani national who arrived on Tyneside from Karachi, Pakistan, via a flight from Dubai, was later charged with smuggling a Class C drug and remanded to appear before Newcastle Crown Court by city magistrates.