Two men have appeared in court after 1.6 tonnes of cocaine was seized from a boat in the English Channel.

Dutch nationals Maarten Peter Pieterse, 59, and Emile Adriaan Jeroen Schoemaker, 44, faced Bristol Magistrates’ Court where they were each accused of a drug importation offence.

The Netherlands-registered SY Marcia was intercepted off the coast of south-west Cornwall on Wednesday and escorted to Newlyn.

The National Crime Agency called the operation a “significant seizure of cocaine” but is yet to disclose the exact quantity recovered.