DETECTIVES investigating the import of cocaine worth £1.2m into North Yorkshire want the public's help tracking down a suspect.

The National Crime Agency and Border Force seized about seven kilos of cocaine from Bagby Airfield, near Thirsk, on October 18 last year, after a light aircraft landed at the site.

One man ran from the scene and was not caught, but the pilot was arrested and is due to stand trial next February charged with importation offences.

Detectives said this week they want to find Jason Steven Waterman, 31, who they believe was at the airfield on the day and may be connected with the incident.

Mick Maloney, from the NCA's border policing command, said: "This was a substantial quantity of cocaine with a street value of more than £1.2m and it is important that we speak to Jason Waterman as part of our investigation.

"We know he has links to north and west London and has previously visited gyms in those areas. His appearance is quite distinctive and I would ask anyone who may have seen him or knows anything about his whereabouts to come forward. I'd also ask that anyone who saw anything suspicious around Bagby Airfield on that day last autumn to get in touch, no matter how small they think it is."

Waterman - who is also known as Jugs or Jumbo - has connections throughout north and west London and Watford, and is believed to be a fan of boxing and mixed martial arts. The NCA said he may be a member of the London Shootfighters MMA club, and visited the Gymbox Westfield gym in Shepherd's Bush.

Information can be passed to nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.