Police hunt trucker accused of smuggling £7m of drugs

A MANHUNT is on for a suspected drug smuggler accused of trying to import than £7m worth of Class A drugs into the UK.

Trucker Lee James Hartness was arrested after his vehicle was stopped by Border Force officers arriving at Dover from France on November 21, 2016.

Officers found cocaine packages weighing more than 90kg in a purpose-built concealed area of the trailer.

The drugs would have had a potential street value of £7.2m if cut and adulterated.

Hartness, pictured, who has connections to Newcastle, Carlisle, and Northern Ireland, was charged with importing a Class A drug following a National Crime Agency investigation.

A court summons was sent in August but the 47-year-old failed to appear at the hearing, and a warrant has since been issued for his arrest.

Two accomplices, brothers Glen and Andrew Harrison, were bailed and are due to stand trial at Canterbury Crown Court in February 2019 in relation to a second importation attempt.

Now the NCA has issued an appeal for any information to track Hartness down.

NCA branch commander Matt Rivers said: “Two years ago Lee Hartness arrived at the Port of Dover and a significant amount of cocaine was seized

from his lorry. Hartness failed to attend his court hearing earlier this year and despite our extensive inquiries we have not yet been able to locate him.

“We are appealing to members of the public who may know the whereabouts of Hartness, or have any information that can help us find him.”

Hartness is a white British male, 6ft tall and of medium build, and speaks with a northern accent.

Both his arms are heavily tattooed with Japanese flower designs and he has a dragon and serpent tattoo on his chest. Anyone with information on Hartness’ whereabouts should contact the National Crime Agency on 0370 496 7622, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.