A lorry driver chasing a “bigger pay day” has been jailed for 13 years after being caught trying to smuggle almost £3 million worth of heroin into the UK via Dover.

Canterbury Crown Court heard that Tibor Dobos, from Hungary, was disappointed he was only carrying 29kg of the drug, which had a street value of £2.9 million.

Messages on his phone to members of an organised crime group showed that he wanted to smuggle 60kg of the Class A substance - almost double the amount he was caught with.

The 54-year-old was stopped as he entered the country at Dover on July 28, 2022. Following a National Crime Agency investigation, he has finally been brought to justice more than three years later.

Dobos denied smuggling the heroin and his trial heard he had made space for the drugs somewhere between Italy and Belgium.

His fingerprints were found on boxes where the heroin was hidden, and he had also sent a message confirming he had concealed the commodity.

The messages also referenced the size of the packages and the available space in the vehicle.

Dobos claimed he believed he was smuggling cigarettes, whiskey, and tins of fish, but the jury rejected his explanation.

Paul Jones, NCA operations manager, said: “Like so many smugglers, Dobos enthusiastically got involved because of greed.

“He wanted to smuggle more than the 29kg he was caught with because he wanted a bumper pay day.

“He didn’t care at all about the bloodshed and devastation Class A drugs cause to our communities.

“Working with partners at home and abroad, the NCA will continue to do everything possible to fight the Class A drugs threat.”

Dobos was jailed on Wednesday afternoon.