A man has been charged with smuggling heroin worth around £1m into the country through Manchester Airport.

Border Force officers found approximately 13 kilos of the drug concealed within clothing inside a suitcase. The discovery followed a terminal search after a flight from Islamabad, Pakistan, touched down in Manchester.

The Home Office say the drugs found have an estimated street value of around £1m.

Liaqat Ali, 47, of Norfolk Close, Clayton-le-Moors, has been charged with a single count of importing a class A drug.

He appeared at Manchester Magistrates Court and was remanded in custody.

No plea was entered.

Tony McMullin, director for Border Force North, said: “By making this seizure we have stopped a significant quantity of dangerous drugs reaching the UK’s streets.

“Our officers are on the frontline of the fight to stop drugs, weapons and other banned goods entering the country.

“Using detection dogs and the very latest technology, they are on constant alert to keep them out of the UK.”