The trial of a man who was arrested after cocaine with an estimated street value of £8million was found in a lorry container will take in August.

Before Ipswich Crown Court on Monday for a plea and trial preparation hearing was 48-year-old Vitali Macari of Iasi, Romania.

He pleaded not guilty to being concerned in carrying, concealing, or dealing cocaine with intent to evade the prohibition on importing the drug last month.

Police officers were called to a premises in Iceni Way, Haverhill, after a hidden compartment was discovered as a container was being unloaded.

The container was taken to a secure location where a search and forensic inquiries took place.

Seventy-five packages of cocaine with a potential street value of more than £8m were recovered.

Macari’s trial, which is expected to last four or five days, will get underway on August 14 this year.

A further case management hearing will take place on June 14.

Judge Emma Peters remanded Macari, who was assisted in court by a Romanian interpreter, in custody.