Suspected British drug kingpin goes on trial in France

Briton Robert Dawes, believed to be one of Europe's biggest drug traffickers, went on trial in Paris on Monday accused of importing 1.3 tons of cocaine into France.

The drugs, stuffed in 30 unregistered suitcases, were discovered in 2013 after an Air France plane arrived at Paris' Charles de Gaulle airport from Caracas.

Dawes, 46, was arrested in November 2015 at his luxury resort in Benalmadena, southern Spain, after police intercepted a conversation in which he reportedly claimed ownership of the cocaine, with a street value of 240 million euros (USD 275 million).

Extradited to France shortly after his arrest, he has denied the charges of drugs trafficking which follow investigations launched in 2007 into alleged links to the Italian mafia and South American cartels.

Dawes is on trial alongside two other Britons and three Italians, who risk up to 30 years in prison and fines of up to 7.5 million euros.

At the time of his arrest, Spanish police said Dawes "headed up the biggest criminal organisation in Britain and Europe devoted to drug trafficking, money laundering and murder."