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Man accused of smuggling £200k worth of cocaine to Island

Hidden compartment in car contained two packages

A man from Scotland has appeared in court accused of trying to smuggle £200,000 of cocaine to the Island.

Russell Armit Nelson Collins of Kirkland in Dumfries and Galloway appeared before magistrates at Douglas Courthouse.

The 57-year-old is alleged to have produced cocaine to the Isle of Man on May 22, and possessed the class A drug with intent to supply it on the same date.

The court heard unemployed Mr Collins was stopped by police as he got off the ferry at Douglas Sea Terminal.

Police searched his vehicle and found a hidden compartment containing two packages, each weighing around a kilogramme.

Prosecutor Roger Kane said one package is still being tested, but the other contained cocaine worth £100,000.

Mr Collins hasn’t yet entered any pleas to either offence, and his advocate requested an adjournment for psychiatric reports to be completed.

Magistrates remanded him in custody and he’ll appear again on 13 June.

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