A freight check in Dover has revealed a lorry carrying 20 handguns and 1,000 rounds of ammunition plus a cocktail of drugs worth £7.5million.

The vehicle was intercepted at Dover Eastern Docks by Border Force officers and referred to the National Crime Agency (NCA) for investigation.

A search of the HGV and trailer found the weapons and a variety of class A and B drugs concealed within the stated cargo of photocopier paper.

The shipment was listed for delivery to an address in Cardiff, but enquiries revealed it was not expected at the delivery address and none of the load was legitimate. The lorry was stopped at the port at 6am on Friday.

Further searches revealed around 300 kg of methamphetamine, 50kg of ketamine, 50kg of cocaine, and 10kg of heroin. They have a combined street value of roughly £7.5million.

Kathryn Philpott, senior investigating officer for the NCA, said: “This is a substantial seizure of firearms and ammunition which would pose a significant risk to life once in the hands of criminals in the UK. Criminal gangs use handguns to bring fear and violence to our streets; we are committed doing all we can to prevent these items getting into the UK to help keep the public safe.”

Lukasz Kur and Rafal Anyszek, who live in Poland, were charged on Saturday night with attempting to import firearms and Class A drugs. They were remanded in custody to appear at Margate Magistrates Court on Monday morning.