Police swooped to arrest Frederick Colverson at a Brandon industrial estate last October after receiving a tip-off, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

David Holborn, prosecuting, said officers found 175kg of cocaine inside Pineapple boxes imported from Costa Rica, valued at $53,000,000.

He said police had watched a lorry arrive at the industrial unit in Highbury Road before hearing excited reactions to its cargo.

“Somebody was very excited about what he’d received,” added Mr Holborn.

Colverson, 56, was arrested at the scene, with his Volkswagen people carrier parked further down the road and with its keys left near its windscreen.

Mr Holborn said the lorry had arrived in Felixstowe on Monday, October 31, last year, before being driven to Brandon.

Colverson, 56, of Galsworthy Avenue, London, denies conspiring with others to supply cocaine. The trial continues this week.

Source: BBC