A man has been sent to prison for 14 years for attempting to smuggle more than £2 million worth of cocaine into the country through Dover.

James McCartney, 49, of Lodden Court Farm Caravan Site, Spencers Wood, Wokingham, appeared at Canterbury Crown Court on Friday charged with attempting to smuggle 37.11 kilos of the drug, with a street value of £2.3 million.

It was on April 9 last year that Border Agency officers at Dover's Eastern Docks intercepted McCartney driving a British-registered lorry carrying a load of mango and passion fruit.

A search of the vehicle revealed a locker which had a black cable tie through the securing latch. Inside were two holders containing wrapped packages and a cardboard square which showed a list of the contents. The packages were tested and reacted positively to cocaine.

Maria Finelli, spokeswoman for Revenue and Customs at Dover said: "HM Revenue and Customs, along with the UK Border Agency, is working at the forefront of the fight to tackle drug smuggling at ports and airports throughout the UK. HMRC take a very serious view drug smuggling."

Anyone with information relating to smuggled goods should contact HMRC’s hotline number on 0800 59 5000 or email: customs.hotline@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk