Suspected drug smugglers were arrested as they tried to land on a beach near Folkestone.

Four men were arrested on suspicion of drug trafficking offences in a swoop by the MPS Specialist Crime Directorate’s special projects team and the UK Borders Agency maritime operations unit.

The officers had intercepted an inflatable boat landing on a beach near Folkestone in the early hours of Friday morning.

The boat was powered with two outboard engines and is thought by police to have arrived into the UK from France.

In a statement, police said: "Officers conducted a thorough search of the boat and surrounding area and as a result, eight holdalls of what is believed to be drugs have been recovered in a nearby lock-up container. It is estimated that the substances recovered were in excess of 100 kilos."

While scientific analysis of the drugs continues, the substances recovered are suspected by police to be cocaine, amphetamine and skunk cannabis.

All four prisoners were taken into custody at Ashford police station.

Detective Inspector Grant Johnson of the Met’s Specialist Crime Directorate’s Projects Team said: "Today’s interception has significantly disrupted what we believe was a large shipment of class A, B and C drugs headed for the streets of London.

"The projects team is committed to dismantling criminal networks that make their money through the distribution of drugs.

"This should send a clear message to those involved in the importation of drugs, that they will be caught."