A man from West Yorkshire has been charged in connection with the attempted importation of around a tonne of cocaine.

The drugs were seized from the yacht Makayabella by the Irish authorities in September 2014.

The Makayabella yacht’s drug haul was seized by the Irish authorities

James Andrew Hill, 30, was arrested by officers from the National Crime Agency at his home address in Hampshire Close, Ilkley, on Tuesday 30 June.

He was charged with conspiring to import class A drugs and appeared before Wakefield Magistrates on the morning of Wednesday 1 July, where he was remanded in custody until his next appearance at Leeds Crown Court on 15 July.

Hill is the fifth person to be charged in the UK in connection with the Makayabella seizure.

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In November 2014 Stephen Powell, 48, from Guiseley was jailed for 16 years after pleading guilty to attempting to import the drugs.