Batley air passenger accused of smuggling £400,000 of drugs

The seizure was made as a drugs detector dog alerted its handler to the luggage.

The drugs, which were discovered on October 20, were within the false sides of a suitcase.

Zaki, 43, of Holly Grove, Batley, arrived in the country following a flight from Islamabad.

He has appeared before Trafford Magistrates charged with importation of a Class A drug.

Zaki, a Pakistani national, was remanded in custody to appear at Manchester Crown Court, in Minshull Street, on Monday November 11.

Following the seizure, assistant director for Border Force Sam Bullimore, said: “This is the second large seizure this month of an extremely harmful drugs.

“I would like to pay tribute to the vigilance and hard work of the officers involved and the efforts of the detection dog.

“We will continue to work hard to keep our borders safe and crack down on drug smuggling.”

The find follows a number of recent seizures by Border Force officials at Manchester Airport.

Over the past few weeks officers have seized around 13kg of heroin.

Anyone with information about smuggling should call 0800 59 5000.