A MARTIAL arts enthusiast nicknamed Jugs is being hunted by detectives over a plot to smuggle £1.2m-worth of cocaine into a controversy-dogged North Yorkshire airfield.

The National Crime Agency has launched a manhunt for Jason Waterman, 31, after officials seized seven kilograms of the drug at Bagby Airfield, a grass airstrip beside the A19, near Thirsk.

Drugs, which if cut and sold on the streets the haul would have had a likely potential value of around £1.2m, were found in a briefcase after the light aircraft touched down following a flight from the Netherlands on October 18 last year.

Those connected with the airfield, over which a fourth public inquiry in five years relating to developments is set to be held later this year, were said to have been stunned by the alleged incident and said it had a close working relationship with border officials.

The plane’s pilot was arrested and is due to stand trial in February next year over importation offences.

Officers from the agency’s north east border investigation team and North Yorkshire Police are understood to have seen a man running from the scene as they swooped on the airstrip. They said Bagby residents’ memories of the day could be vital to the investigation.

Detectives said Waterman, 31, was known to have links to the north and west London areas, as well as Watford and was thought to have been a member of the London Shootfighters Mixed Martial Arts Club, and previously frequented the Gymbox Westfield gym in Shepherd’s Bush.

He is also thought to be a boxing fan and be known by the nickname ‘Jumbo’.

Mick Maloney, of the agency, said: “This was a substantial quantity of cocaine with a street value of more than £1.2 million 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. It could be important.”

Anyone with information should email communication@nca.x.gsi.gov.uk

In a separate case in February, North Yorkshire pilot Andrew Wright, 52 - who was nicknamed Biggles - was jailed for 19 years for smuggling £33.5 million-worth of cocaine into Breighton Airfield, south of York.