Opium with a street value of more than £160,000 has been seized at Dover.

Border Agency officers swooped on a Bulgarian-registered coach at the inward tourist controls at the port.

During a search of the vehicle on Monday they found a holdall containing 8kg of opium.

Ivan Gocev, a 28-year-old Bulgarian coach driver, appeared at Folkestone Magistrates Court on Tuesday, charged with drug smuggling.

He is due before Dover magistrates next Thursday.

Investigations by the UK Border Agency into the attempted importation continue.