Portsmouth dock worker cleared of conspiring to import cocaine

A dock worker accused of being involved in a plot to import £118m of cocaine into the UK has been found not guilty.

The 1.5 tonnes of drugs were found among pallets of bananas in a container destined for Portsmouth in April.

A jury at Portsmouth Crown Court has now cleared Michael Butcher, 66, of conspiracy to evade the prohibition on the importation of a controlled drug.

Michael Jordan and Clayton Harwood all deny the same charge and await the jury's verdicts.

The jury is expected to continue deliberating on Monday.

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