£500,000 cannabis found in lorry at ferryport

Cannabis with a street value of almost £500,000 has been discovered in a lorry arriving on a ferry at a UK port, the UK Border Agency (UKBA) said today.

The vehicle, which was carrying household goods, arrived at Portsmouth ferryport on a ferry from Santander, Spain, on Sunday.

It was searched and UKBA officers discovered 170kg of cannabis resin inside the trailer.

The driver, a 38-year-old UK national, was arrested and questioned at Portsmouth police station. He has since been bailed while the UKBA conducts further inquiries.

The drugs are undergoing further examination but have an estimated potential street value of £489,000, according to a UKBA spokesman.

Carole Upshall, in charge of operations for the UKBA in the south of England, said: "UK Border Agency officers are working hard at all our ports to prevent drugs, illegal weapons, contraband or illegal immigrants from entering the UK."