A man has admitted smuggling about 2kg of cocaine - worth £200,000 - into the island.

The drugs were found hidden in a secret compartment of a car that had just been brought over from Liverpool.

Russell Armit Nelson Collins, of Kirkland Drive, in Dumfries and Galloway, admitted charges of production of a class ’A’ drug to the island and possession of it with intent to supply when he appeared before magistrates on Thursday.

The case had previously been adjourned while Collins, aged 57, was evaluated by a psychiatrist with regards to his fitness to plead.

He was deemed fit and he will be sentenced at the Court of General Gaol Delivery for the offences.

Prosecutor Rebecca Cubbon told the court that Collins got off the ferry from Liverpool on May 22 at 9.50pm.

He was driving a Volkswagen Passat and was stopped by police.

Collins told officers that he had come to the island to meet a girl he had met online but gave numerous inconsistent details. A search of the Passat found a secret compartment in the car which contained two packages.

One was tested and said to weigh 1,002 grams of cocaine, with a street value of £100,020.

The second packages was not tested but was believed to have a similar value.

When interviewed by police, Collins handed in a prepared statement saying he was asked to collect a car in Liverpool and take it to the Isle of Man.

He said he was given £500 but had to pay for the journey and car insurance out of that.

Collins claimed he was told that the car was a gift for someone and that he had no knowledge of the drugs or secret compartment.

He said, if he had known, he would not have made the journey.

For the rest of the interview he gave ’no comment’ responses.

Ms Cubbon submitted that the case was too serious for summary court and should be sent to the Court of General Gaol Delivery for sentencing.

Magistrates agreed and Collins will make his first appearance at the higher court on September 30.

No bail application was made and he was remanded in custody.