A MAN who attempted to smuggle 30 kilos of cocaine into the UK has been sentenced to 15 years in jail.

Gary Levens, 33, from Windermere Avenue, St Helens, was stopped in his Ford Transit recovery truck by customs officers at Eastern Docks, Dover in August last year.

After searching the truck, they found the cocaine concealed in a box section of the vehicle chassis.

Following the trial at Canterbury Crown Court Customs Officer Regional Head Graham Hooker said: "This was a very sophisticated concealment, but the discovery of the drugs and the successful prosecution underlines our commitment to reduce the availability of class A drugs on the streets, in line with the Government's strategy."