A man who attempted to smuggle £250,000 worth of diazepam tablets into the UK through Dover’s Eastern Docks has been jailed.

Blago Alpeza, 27, was arrested on the evening of March 30, after Border Force officers found 92kgs of the Class C drug hidden throughout his Citreon C5.

They had stopped the vehicle at Dover’s inward tourist controls.

Paul Morgan, Director of Border Force South East and Europe, said: “Officers found blister packs of the tablets hidden within natural spaces in the chassis, in adapted areas around the bumpers and floor and in purpose-built concealments in the engine area and fuel tank.

"There was hardly a space within the vehicle that was not being used by Alpeza in his criminal enterprise.

Mr Morgan said: “It is illegal to possess diazepam without a prescription and there are serious risks to those who abuse the Class C drug.

"Results like this demonstrate the vital work Border Force officers are doing on the front line to keep dangerous drugs off the streets of the UK.

“Every year Border Force officers operating at the UK border seize drugs worth hundreds of millions of pounds.

"Working with law enforcement partners like the National Crime Agency (NCA) we are determined to prevent drug trafficking and to bring those responsible to justice.”

Alpeza, from Croatia, admitted the offence when he appeared at Canterbury Crown Court and was jailed for 28 months.

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