A lorry driver caught trying to smuggle more than 16,000kg of tobacco has been jailed.

Arkadiusz Kiedrzyn was caught attempting to sneak the tobacco through Dover's Eastern Docks.

Kiedrzyn, 43, from Rudniki, Poland, was stopped by Border Force officers September 13 as he was driving through the customs controls at the docks.

A search of the trailer found 16,240kg of tobacco, worth more than £2.3 million in lost duty and taxes.

He was charged next day with being knowingly concerned with taking preparatory steps to evade excise duty.

Appearing at Maidstone Crown Court yesterday, Kiedrzyn pleaded guilty to the charge and was jailed for 40 months.

Tom Hunnisett, assistant director in the Fraud Investigation Service at HMRC, said after the case: "Cheap cigarettes come at a cost as they often fund organised crime and other illegal activity.

"That causes real harm to our communities, such as drugs, guns and human trafficking.

"HMRC continues to work closely with Border Force officers, local authorities and international law enforcement partners to tackle illicit tobacco smuggling."

Anyone who wishes to report suspected fraud to HMRC should complete the online form on gov.uk/report-tax-fraud