A man has been jailed for seven-and-a-half years after attempting to smuggle around 10 kilos of amphetamine and a kilo of cocaine into the country.

The street value of these drugs are estimated to be worth around £520,000 on the streets.

Thomas Mayes, 23, from Gillingham, was stopped and questioned in the tourist controls at Dover's Eastern Docks on February 19.

He was driving a British registered Ford transit.

Mayes said that he had been to Belgium to pick up market goods for sale in the UK.

Officers searched the vehicle and found drugs under a false floor in the vehicle.

He was then arrested and the investigation was passed to the National Crime Agency.

The 23-year-old pleaded guilty at a hearing at Canterbury Crown Court on March 10 and was sentenced there today.

Paul Morgan, director of Border Force south east and Europe said: “Drug trafficking is a serious offence and those convicted will face prison sentences.

"Our message to those who would consider it is that it’s just not worth it.

“Border Force officers will continue to work diligently to keep our border secure and to make life as tough as possible for those who seek to profit from this evil trade.”

Anyone with information about activity they suspect may be linked to drug smuggling should call the hotline on 0800 59 5000.