drugs baron Brian Charrington has lost his claim to more than £2m found in the loft of his home during a Customs raid more than a decade ago.

The money was seized during a search of the former car dealer's house in Weaverthorpe, Nunthorpe, Middlesbrough, in June 1992.

The haul - in sterling and Swiss francs - totalled £2,245,788.53. Its value has now risen to £3,576,459 after more than 12 years in a high interest bank account.

Charrington was arrested along with a number of other men, including Colombian Mario Halley, and charged with involvement in the importation of cocaine worth hundreds of millions of pounds from South America.

In January 1993 the charges against Charrington were dropped and all but one of the other defendants were acquitted. Only Nigerian national Joseph Kassar was jailed for 24 years for his role in arranging the shipping of the drugs.

The Assets Recovery Agency (ARA) has now secured a civil recovery order at the High Court, in London, for £32,000 raised from the sale of two BMWs bought by Charrington with cash on behalf of Halley.

The High Court has rejected Charrington's claim to be the legitimate owner of the cash which he maintains represented the proceeds of trading on the international diamonds market.

Proceedings have now been adjourned until October 6.

Last Monday's order by Mr Justice Collins in relation to the money from the BMWs means the cash will be transferred to the Civil Recovery trustees and used in the fight against crime.

ARA director Jane Earl said: "We are committed to pursuing cases where we are convinced that property has been obtained as a result of unlawful activity."

Charrington is in jail in Germany for unconnected drugs offences.