Two men have been charged with conspiracy to import class A drugs following three arrests and seizures of cocaine worth millions of pounds.

The charges, made in Dover, came as part of a National Crime Agency investigation into drugs supply.

Jason Bunce, aged 57, of Kingswood, Maidstone and lorry driver, Gary Sloan, aged 50, of Magheralin, Co Armagh, Northern Ireland, have been charged with conspiracy to import Class A drugs and will appear at Canterbury Magistrates' Court today.

A 40-year-old man from Dover who was also arrested has been released under investigation.

Investigators recovered 36 kilos of cocaine from inside a lorry that travelled on a ferry from France into Dover.

The drugs, hidden in what is believed to be a purpose-built hide in the lorry, has a potential street value of about £3 million.

NCA regional head of investigations Gerry McLean said: “This was a significant seizure of class A drugs which would have generated a large amount of profit for criminals involved in drug supply.

“Crime groups involved in drugs supply are also involved in violence and exploitation, so cutting off their profits reduces the harm they can cause for our communities.

“Working with partners like Border Force and the PSNI we are determined to do all we can to disrupt and dismantle gangs involved in drug trafficking.”

This is the third major drugs haul to be made in Dover this week, after two separate seizures saw around £20m worth of cocaine taken off the streets on Monday.

Read more: All the latest news from Dover