Kent Police have bagged a share of £1.5 million seized when a big-time money launderer was caught at Dover.

The force was awarded half the cash found by its Frontier Operations unit last year.

Officers had stopped a van in a routine stop as it passed through the Port of Dover.

Hidden inside they uncovered what police believed is the biggest cash seizure ever made at a British port.

The van's driver, 39-year-old Nabil Zekari, from Belgium, was arrested and later charged with money laundering offences.

He was sentenced to four and half years in jail in December last year, after pleading guilty at Maidstone Crown Court.

The court heard how Zekari admitted he was paid £1,500 for taking the money out of the UK.

Kent Police have now won a forfeiture order for the cash under the Proceeds of Crime Act after a ruling at Folkestone Magistrates' Court.

Half the money will be awarded to Kent Police to be used for crime-fighting. The other half will go to the Home Office.

Head of crime and intelligence Chief Superintendent Lee Catling said: "This is a fantastic result for Kent Police's Serious Economic Crime Unit and demonstrates how the seizure of criminal assets disrupts serious and organised crime groups.

"Officers tackling the forfeiture element of these investigations are dedicated to ensuring that those who have been found guilty before a court of law for their crimes do not benefit from their criminality."