Three people have been arrested following two seizures of cocaine with a combined street value of almost £20m.

The unconnected hauls were discovered in lorries at the Port of Dover earlier this week.

Within a void in the floor of one HGV, which had arrived from Holland carrying a consignment of paper and card, Border Force officers found an estimated 140 kilos of cocaine with a potential street value of about £14 million.

During a search of a second HGV carrying a consignment of toy building blocks, officers discovered two holdalls in side lockers containing approximately 50 kilos of cocaine.

The drugs have a potential street value of about £5 million.

Following the seizures on Monday, both cases were passed to the National Crime Agency.

Dutch national Gerrit Van Eckeveld, age 62, from Nieuwegein in the Netherlands, who was arrested in relation to the 140 kilos, was later charged with importing cocaine.

He appeared before Medway Magistrates today, where he was remanded in custody and is due to appear at Canterbury Crown Court on May 20.

Two Czech nationals were arrested on suspicion of importing the 50 kilos.

They were later released under investigation while NCA enquiries continue.

NCA Dover branch commander Martin Grace said: "These seizures demonstrate that the organised criminal networks involved in international drug trafficking continue to pose a threat to the UK, even with the restrictions brought about by the coronavirus pandemic.

"This was a very successful day’s work for our officers"

“These two seizures have deprived those networks of a substantial amount of drugs and, crucially, a substantial amount of profit that would have been reinvested in more criminality.

“Working with partners like Border Force we are determined to do all we can to disrupt and dismantle crime groups involved in drug distribution.”

Dave Smith, Border Force regional director, added: “This was a very successful day’s work for our officers who, between the two seizures, have taken a very substantial amount of drugs taken out of circulation.

“Border Force remains active on the frontline, keeping the country safe from illegal drugs.

"We will continue to work closely with law enforcement colleagues like the National Crime Agency.”

Read more: All the latest news from Dover