A trucker has been jailed today (Thursday) after smuggling tobacco, weapons and drugs.

Arpad Jeddi brought in nearly 900kg of hand-rolling tobacco, eight knives and CS gas.

He was also found to have a small quantity of cocaine and amphetamines.

Jeddi was stopped by Border Force officers at Dover Eastern Docks on the evening of October 19 last year.

They discovered 880 kilos of Turner and Eastenders brand tobacco in the lorry’s trailer unit, worth an estimated £174,328 in evaded excise duty.

The tobacco was hidden alongside a legitimate cargo of festive paper bags.

A search of Jeddi revealed that he had six grams of cocaine, with a street value of £600, and a lock knife.

Found in his lorry cab were 81 grams of amphetamine, with a street value of £1,300, and a further seven illegal knives, including one with an 11 inch blade and several throwing knives.

The case was referred to HM Revenue and Customs for investigation.

Jeddi, 47, from city of Miskolc in Hungary, pleaded guilty to 11 charges at Canterbury Crown Court on Tuesday.

These covered evading duty on 880kg of tobacco, importing the CS gas canister as a prohibited weapon, importing a class A drug, having an offensive weapon and seven separate charges of having a bladed article.

He was jailed by the same court today.

Jeddi had already admitted importing the amphetamine at a hearing last November 25.

HMRC wants anyone with information regarding tobacco fraud to contact its Fraud Hotline on 0800 788 887 or via the website gov.uk/report-tobacco-or-alcohol-tax-evasion.