Lorry Driver Charged With Smuggling Drugs

UK Border Agency officers in Dover have charged a 59-year-old lorry driver with drug smuggling.

Ralph Cross, of no fixed abode, has been remanded in custody after appearing at Folkestone Magistrates Court today where he did not enter a plea.

He was arrested on 3 June at the inward freight controls at Dover's Eastern Docks.

UK Border Agency officers had searched a lorry with a detector dog and found three holdalls containing an estimated 100 kilos of white powder and a number of tablets.

The powder gave a positive reaction to amphetamine sulphate and the tablets to Ecstasy. The drugs have an estimated street value of £1 million.

Enquiries by UK Border Agency investigators are continuing.

Ray Payne, Assistant Director for the UK Border Agency, said:

"The UK Border Agency works 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to detect and prevent drugs from being smuggled into the UK. We are determined to prevent this terrible trade which can have such a destructive impact on the lives of so many.

"Anyone with information about activity they suspect may be linked to drug smuggling should call the customs hotline on 0800 59 5000."

UK Border Agency officers use hi-tech search equipment to combat immigration crime and detect banned and restricted goods that smugglers attempt to bring into the country.

They also use an array of search techniques including detection dogs, carbon dioxide detectors, heartbeat monitors and scanners as well as visual searches to find well-hidden stowaways, illegal drugs, firearms and cigarettes which would otherwise end up causing harm to local people, businesses and communities.