NINE people have appeared in court accused of masterminding a £12m plan to ship drugs from South America.

The gang allegedly plotted to sell 5.5 tonnes of cannabis shipped from Mexico over a six-month period.

Leonard McConkey, of Glenesk Road, Eltham; Nicola Hart, of Amblecote Meadows, Grove Park, and Peter Gaines, of Winchcomb Gardens, Eltham, appeared at Southwark Crown Court on December 23.

They, along with four others, denied conspiracy to supply cannabis between April 12 and October 7 last year.

Two others Laura Manders, of Jevingon Way, Grove Park, and Richard Hobbs, from Hounslow, Middlesex will reappear in court on the same charge on January 20.

Hart, aged 42, and Manders, aged 31, were given conditional bail.

McConkey, aged 52, and Gaines, aged 46, were both remanded in custody.