BORDER Force officers seized about two kilos of cocaine, worth around £250,000, from the base of a suitcase at Gatwick Airport.
A man has been arrested and charged with importing Class A drugs following the arrest on February 5.
A pair of detection dogs alerted officers to the drugs as the suitcase passed through Gatwick's baggage transfer point bound for another European flight.
After Border Force officers discovered the drugs haul the incident was passed to the National Crime Agency and Spanish national Ruben Castro Lanzo, 18, of no fixed address, was charged with drug smuggling.
Border Force South regional director, Carole Upshall, said: "In making this seizure, Border Force officers at Gatwick have taken dangerous Class A drugs out of circulation.
"Our officers are on the front-line of the fight to stop drugs, weapons, contraband and illegal immigrants entering the UK.
"Using detection dogs and the very latest technology, they are on constant alert to keep them out of the country."
Lanzo appeared at Croydon Magistrates Court on February 6. He did not enter a plea and was remanded in custody until February 20.
Call 0800 59 5000 with information on smuggling.
