DRUGS traffickers who travel to and from Dover have been targeted in two operations.

On Friday, police officers with sniffer dogs were at railway stations throughout East Kent, including Dover Priory, on the look-out for those who are supplying drugs to addicts in the area.

It is known that the railway system is used for drugs trafficking, and originally this was planned as a county-wide police operation.

But the wintry weather had obviously deterred some suppliers from travelling that day, and although officers were still on duty at Dover Priory station, the operation was scaled back.

A number of people were questioned, and at least two arrests were made for alleged theft from a local shop.

On Monday, police joined with Customs, the Benefits Agency, DVLA, Department of Transport and Immigration to target vehicles using the A20 through Dover.

More than 80 cars and lorries were stopped and directed to a special area, near the Western Docks, where searched were carried out and inspections of the vehicles were made.

As a result, 13 vehicles were made the subject of prohibition notices as being unroadworthy, and Customs and Excise officers seized two vehicles which were illegally using red diesel.

Immigration made three arrests, the DVLA uncovered 13 offences, Trading Standards officers revealed two offences, and staff from the Benefits Agency reported one person for possible fraud.

Although six searches were carried out under the Misuse of Drugs Act, no drugs were found.

A police spokesman said the operations were part of their on-going work to crack down on the supply and misuse of drugs in the area, and further operations would follow.