MORE than 25 kilos of cocaine has been seized in the Dover and Deal area following a joint operation involving Customs and Excise, Port of Dover Police and Kent Special Branch officers.

Two men were arrested as they attempted to leave Dover docks through the exit designated for crew members. Both were wearing high visibility jackets, but neither of them worked at the port.

The multi-agency task force went to an address later and arrested a third person, and a number of other premises were searched. In all atotal of 26 kilos of cocaine, said to have a street value of £1.5 million, were seized.

Phil Matthews, assistant chief investigation officer for Customs and Excise, said it was an excellent result for the newly-formed multi-agency team. He added: "We have completely disrupted a major trafficking organisation regularly penetrating the UK with class A drugs.

Kent Police spokesman Mark Pugash said: "This new venture shows the value of closer working at the frontier, preventing large quantities of drugs reaching the street."