Two men will be sentenced after supplying £17million worth of cocaine hidden in cheese truckles from a warehouse in Blackburn.

Saleem Chaudhri, 45, of Waters Edge, Blackburn, was charged with possession with intent to supply a class A drug last year.

Preston Sessions House heard that Chaudhri pleaded guilty to intent to supply class A drugs from Thursday, April 1 2021, to Thursday, May 5, 2023.

Another defendant, Rieadul Mohabath, 28, Dean Road, South Shields, pleaded guilty to intent to supply class A drugs from Wednesday, December 28 2022, to Thursday, May 5, 2023.

The court heard that the pair had received and supplied around 217 kilos of cocaine, with 76 to 80 per cent rates of purity and a street value of £17million at unit 21, Bryan Street, Blackburn.

Chaudhri received packages of cheese truckles at the warehouse from a man named 'Campo', filled with thousands of pounds worth of cocaine.

The haul was recovered on Wednesday, May 3 2023, and according to Lancashire Police, the find was one of the biggest ever drug seizures in the county.

Matthew Conway, prosecuting, said: "Chaudhri would move and unpack the cheese and would record how much had been received to his boss, Campo.

"When he was arrested, police found him opening the warehouse door that was under his name.

"When they seized his phone, they found text messages between him and Campo with instructions of what amount of cocaine to give to who to deliver.

"Although Mohabath joined the operation a year later, he had nearly as much responsibility for the supply of the cocaine towards the distributors as Chaudhri after the packages had been delivered."

At the warehouse, police also found a forklift truck and large pink pallets that contained Dutch gouda, believed to be a cover up for the cocaine.

After the arrests, the defendants' addresses were searched, and police found around £9,200 in cash at Mohabath's and £1,590 at Chaudhri's.

In mitigation, Charnjit Jutla told the court that Chaudhri had been sent to private school when he was young as his teachers recommended he was smart enough to go.

As Chaudhri's life went on, he fell into debt and struggled to find work after he needed to look after his family, and turned to supplying drugs to alleviate these debts.

Mr Jutla said: "He was put in a difficult position when his wife was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2011, resulting in a double mastectomy and hysterectomy and the inability to no longer have more children.

"He was also diagnosed with cancer in 2014 and, when his father died, he had to look after his mother, three sisters who are deaf from a hereditary condition, and a brother who struggles with his mental health.

"He understands this does not alleviate the seriousness of the situation, and understands nothing but an immediate custodial sentence is appropriate.

"He has let himself, and his father who worked so hard to build a reputation up in this country, down."

Chaudhri has three convictions for three separate offences, non drug related, and Mohabath has two convictions for six previous offences, related to supplying class B drugs and driving offences.

The seizure was part of Operation Warrior, the police’s response to tackling serious and organised crime in Lancashire.

The pair will be sentenced later this year, on April 12.