A Shropshire man has been arrested after detectives seized £20 million of illegal drugs in one of the biggest ever drugs-bust operations of its kind in London.

The haul of cannabis, totalling almost five tonnes, was discovered by police and a customs team. They believe they have smashed a “major international drugs” operation.

The haul of drugs was found at a premises in the Burnt Oak area of Edgware in the capital on Tuesday.  

Detectives said it was the largest amount of cannabis ever seized by the Middle Market Drugs Partnership, and one of the largest made by the Metropolitan Police as a whole. 

Christopher Hopkins, 29, of Newport, was due to appear at Hendon Magistrates Court charged with the importation of cannabis this afternoon. 

Abdirahman Khalib, 26, of Stanmore, London, and Yasin Muse, 38, of Edgware, London, were also due to appear before the court alongside Hopkins. 

The drugs were discovered in a premises at the back of a hairdressing salon.

The Metropolitan Police said that detectives believed they had smashed a “major international drugs importation gang”.

The drugs were seized as the result of an operation staged by a joint unit involving the Metropolitan Police drugs squad, the Serious and Organised Crime Squad and the City of London police.

Police said a number of suspects had been under observation by police for some time. 

People were seen by police officers to be unloading boxes containing the drugs into the property and then into the waiting van. 

A total of five men were arrested in the police operation. 

Police said their inquiries into the smuggling operation were continuing. 

The cannabis that was seized is believed to be of African origin.

Two other men, aged 35 and 37, were bailed to return pending further inquiries.

Detective Chief Inspector Peter Weinberg, from the Middle Market Drugs Partnership, said: “This operation is a huge success, with an enormous seizure of drugs. 

“MMDP are dedicated to tackling these issues.”