A HAULAGE firm boss who was arrested after 39 bodies were discovered in a lorry has been charged with drug trafficking offences.

Thomas Maher, from Woolston, was held on suspicion of manslaughter and conspiracy to traffic people in October last year in connection with the deaths of the Vietnamese nationals.

They were found dead inside a HGV in Grays, Essex, and were aged as young as 15.

Officers executed a search warrant at the 39-year-old’s home on Wiltshire Close in connection with the investigation – with two Range Rovers, a Chevrolet spots car and a motorbike seized.

Warrington Guardian:

And Maher has now been charged with a series of offences – namely two counts of conspiracy to import class A drugs, two counts of conspiracy to launder money and conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm.

He is alleged to have smuggled the illicit substances and €900,000 in cash into Ireland.

The Irish national appeared before Warrington Magistrates Court on Monday, June 15, in order to face these charges.

And he is now due to appear back before the same court on Monday, June 22, having been remanded into custody until then.

Maher and his wife Joanna, who was also previously arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and conspiracy to traffic people, were later released under investigation over the alleged offences.

The couple had earlier told the MailOnline that they had sold the Scania lorry cab the bodies were found in to a company in Ireland.

Police also searched a salon on Fearnhead Lane, which is believed to be owned by Mrs Maher, during the probe into the 39 deaths.

Essex Police has not yet confirmed whether the pair remain under investigation for these matters, despite a request from the Warrington Guardian.