A man who attempted to smuggle heroin and cocaine into Kent has been jailed.

Ross Deffley was caught trying to smuggle drugs worth £16.5m into Dover hidden in catering supplies.

The 26-year-old, from Solihull, was arrested when he was stopped at the border on September 21.

Border Force officers searched his van and found boxes of what appeared to be nitrous oxide canisters for the catering industry.

However, when officers opened up the boxes, they found a total of 183 kilos of heroin and cocaine concealed inside, before also discovering an extendable baton in the cab of the vehicle.

The consignment, made up of 97kg of heroin and 86kg of cocaine was actually destined for a residential address he could access.

Investigators found he had recently set up companies to transport nitrous oxide canisters, in which the drugs were smuggled.

Deffley was convicted of two counts of attempting to import class A drugs on 30 November, and had earlier been convicted of possession of an offensive weapon.

He was sentenced to 10 years in prison at Canterbury Crown Court today, and will now be subject to a confiscation investigation under the Proceeds of Crime act to identify and seize the cash and goods obtained from his drug smuggling.

National Crime Agency Branch Commander Mark Howes said: “This was an extremely large amount of Class A drugs, with an estimated street value of £16.5 million. The seizure would have been a major blow to the criminal network likely to be behind the attempted importation.

“Organised crime groups involved in drug trafficking are often responsible for violence and exploitation in our communities, so cutting off their international supply lines protects the public from the harm these dangerous drugs can cause.

“Working alongside our partners in Border Force, we continue to work on the frontline against drug smuggling.”

Dave Smith, Regional Director Border Force South East & Europe said:“Drug supply chains are violent and exploitative, degrading neighbourhoods across our country.

“The sentencing of Ross Deffley this week sends a clear message to anyone considering attempting to smuggle illegal drugs into the country that we remain committed and prepared in tackling drug supply chains.

“Those officers involved in this seizure can be proud of their work in stopping these dangerous drugs from entering our communities.”