CHARLIE Kray, the brother of gangster twins Reggie and Ronnie, was last night charged by police in connection with an alleged #80m cocaine smuggling ring.

Kray, 70, and two other men - builder Ronald Field, 49, and electrician Robert Gould, 39 - were charged with supplying 2kgs of cocaine valued at #300,000 and conspiring with each other and persons unknown to supply 520kgs of cocaine valued at #78m.

Mr Kray, of Sanderstead, Surrey, and Mr Field, of Raynes Park, London, were also charged with conspiracy to supply 1000 ecstasy tablets valued at #20,000.

The three were arrested on Wednesday night when police raided two separate addresses in South-east England.

They will appear in custody at Redbridge Magistrates Court, east London, today.

Twins Reggie, 62, and Ronnie, who died last year in Broadmoor hospital, were sentenced to a minimum 30 years in 1969 for the murder of gangland figure Jack McVitie. Ronnie was also convicted of murdering George Cornell.