A 31-year-old man from St Albans has denied a charge related to human trafficking after a speed boat was intercepted on a beach.

Herts Advertiser: A speed boat was intercepted on Walmer Beach in Kent on August 3. Picture: Google Street ViewA speed boat was intercepted on Walmer Beach in Kent on August 3. Picture: Google Street View (Image: Archant)

Nazmi Velia, 31, of Park Street Lane, pleaded not guilty at St Albans Crown Court yesterday after being charged with conspiracy to facilitate a breach of immigration law.

Mr Velia was arrested alongside Thomas Mason, of High Street in the Bedfordshire village of Eyeworth, and Egert Kajici, 34, of Turner Drive in Oxford, after a boat was stopped in Walmer, Kent, on August 3 during a joint operation between the Eastern Region Special Operations Unit and Border Force.

Mr Mason and Mr Kajici were both charged with the same offence and also pleaded not guilty yesterday.

All three men were remanded in custody after bail was refused by Judge Philip Grey.

A date for the trial at St Albans Crown Court has been set for January 28, 2019.