CUSTOMS officers at Dover have seized 120 kilos of cocaine, with an estimated street value of £7.2 million after discovering the drugs in a lorry that arrived at the town's Eastern Docks.

“This is the largest seizure of drugs at Dover ferry port so far this year,” said Graham Hooker, head of Detection for Customs at Dover.

“Customs Officers have prevented a significant quantity of cocaine from reaching the streets of northern England. This seizure underlines our commitment to reduce the availability of Class A drugs in the UK.”

Customs Officers on duty at the ferry port on Monday evening stopped a lorry after it arrived on a ferry from Dunkerque. During a search of the vehicle, the officers found the drugs packed in boxes hidden amongst the cover load of tiles and shop fittings.

Michael Briggs, 52, of Common Road, Low Moor, Bradford, has been charged with attempting to smuggle a quantity of cocaine into the UK and has been bailed to appear before Dover magistrates on Monday, October 18.