A man from Berkshire has been charged after the National Crime Agency found almost 100 kilos of cocaine worth $12.8 million under frozen fish.

Authorities found the drugs at the Newhaven port in East Sussex, where the fish were packed into the rear of a refrigerated van which was searched by the Border Force.

Authorities searched the vehicle as it came off a ferry in the early hours of November 23, 2019, the day of the incident.

Upon inspection, officers recovered 97 packages that contained nearly 1 kilo of cocaine each.

The drugs were seized and were sent for further analysis.

Reports suggest that the local or street value of the drugs is worth around $12.8 million USD.

50-year-old James Satterley, the driver of the van, Cookham in Maidenhead was questioned by NCA officers and charged with importing Class-A drugs.

James was remanded in custody to appear before Brighton magistrates on Monday.

According to Paul Morris, an NCA Senior Investigating Officer, said, “NCA officers are working alongside Border Force, Sussex Police, Thames Valley Police, and the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit to investigate this seizure and the circumstances around it.”

Paul added, “Working with partners we are determined to do all we can to disrupt the organized crime groups involved in the large-scale importation of class A drugs, which fuel serious violence and impact some of the most vulnerable members of our society. Making seizures like this is an important part of that work.”