Cocaine with an estimated street value of £120,000 has been found stashed inside a box of vegetables at Kent International Airport, Manston.

Three kilos of the drug were discovered in a consignment of produce that arrived on a flight from Ghana on Tuesday.

The UK Border Agency (UKBA) is investigating but a spokesman said no arrests have yet been made.

Its officers use hi-tech equipment at Manston to combat people-smuggling and detect banned or restricted goods

Ray Payne, assistant director of the UKBA, said: "We work tirelessly to detect and prevent drugs being smuggled into the UK and we're determined to prevent this terrible trade which can have such a destructive impact on the lives of so many."

Matt Clarke, chief executive of Kent International Airport, insisted the standards of search and border protection at Manston were "extremely robust".

He added: "Every port of entry into the UK is a prospective target for illegal trafficking but this recent find sends a strong message to traffickers that Kent International Airport is not the place for them."

Anyone with information about activities that may be linked to drug smuggling is asked to call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.