THREE men from Hillingdon have appeared at the Old Bailey today after being arrested in one of the largest raids ever undertaken by the Met.

In February, a gang of 21 people were charged with drugs and money laundering offences following raids at 30 addresses across London and the south east.

A JCB was used to smash through a wall at a house in Vine Lane, Uxbridge where one of the men was arrested.

Firearms and more than 110kg of cocaine, worth around £5.5m, were recovered during the raids, dubbed Operation Eaglewood.

Maythem Al Ansari, 39 of Vine Lane, Hillingdon, Amman Salhan, 25 of Oxford Avenue, Harlington, and Eyad Iktilat, 44 of Hayes, appeared via video link at the Old Bailey today.

Judge Nicholas Loraine-Smith QC adjourned the hearing until August 8, but said a trial could not take place before next year.

The trial is likely to take place at Woolwich Crown Court.