Three in court on drugs ring charge
Three men have been charged in connection with an international drug importation ring that saw cannabis being delivered to a town in Shropshire.
David North, 50, from Blore Road in Hales, near Market Drayton, Bann Klootwiijk, 47, of London Road, Nantwich, and Mark Ballinger, 32, of Farnborough, Hampshire, are alleged to have been part of a group aiming to deliver the class B drug to Market Drayton.
West Mercia Police's Serious Organised Crime Unit executed drugs warrants at Adderley Road Industrial Estate in Market Drayton in November last year and seized hundreds of kilograms of cannabis.
At the time police said the drugs had a street value of more than £3,000 per kilo.
Members of the UK Border Agency were also involved in the crackdown. In total 10 people were arrested in connection with the drugs ring.
North, Klootwiijk and Ballinger were charged on Monday with conspiracy to import cannabis with intent to supply over a 12-month period from November 2011.
They appeared at Birmingham Magistrates' Court on Tuesday where all three were remanded into custody.
