Two men have been jailed for a total of 20 years for smuggling 10 kilos of heroin with a street value of £700,000 into the UK through Dover last December.

Following a successful investigation by Revenue and Customs officers, both had earlier pleaded guilty to the charges and were today sentenced at Canterbury Crown Court.

Kadir Mohammad Jan was stopped by Customs officers on December 9 when he arrived at the Eastern Docks in Dover. A search of his Peugeot Panther van,revealed boxes of beer and wine. However, on inspection Customs officers identified two of the wine boxes each contained only one bottle of wine and a large brown bag, which was found to contain heroin.

Forensic fingerprinting analysis of the drug wrappings led Customs officers to arrest and charge a further man, Perbez Alam on February 25.

Both were charged with smuggling Class A drugs under the Customs and Management Act 1979.

Malcolm Bragg, Investigation Assistant Director for HMRC said: “The success of this investigation highlights our proactive role in reducing drugs being brought into the UK. In addition with the help of forensic fingerprinting analysis, we were able to target and bring to justice a second criminal involved in drug smuggling activities. Our priority is to wipe out illegal drugs and their availability on city streets.”

Perbez Alam, 29, of Amiss Gardens, Small Heath, was sentenced to 11 years in prison and Kadir Mohammad Jan, 20, of Sladefield Road, Birmingham, was sentenced to nine years in prison.