Mark Leslie, 64, from Amberley Drive in Surrey, appeared at Belfast Magistrates’ Court charged with being concerned in the supply of cocaine. The charge connects to a drug seizure at a storage unit in Mallusk, Co Antrim.

Police and Garda Siochana searched the facility on May 3, 2025. They targeted 24 pallets unloaded from a delivery lorry. Officers discovered drugs hidden in 10-kilo tins labeled as olives among food products with expired dates.

The haul included 36 kilos of cocaine, 48 kilos of ketamine, 90 kilos of cannabis resin, and 63 kilos of herbal cannabis. Police estimate the street value at £6.5 million. Authorities believe the consignment arrived from the Netherlands for distribution across the UK from Belfast.

Forensic tests on containers identified Leslie’s full DNA profile on packaging of three kilos of high-purity cocaine. An English national living in Spain, he was arrested at an airport in England on Friday.

A forklift driver at the scene faces related charges. Leslie received bail with conditions including no travel outside the UK, residence at an approved English address, and signing on at a police station three times weekly.

District Judge Francis Rafferty granted bail and set the next hearing for next month. Defence solicitor Paul Dougan noted Leslie has surrendered his passport.