A BLACKBURN man is facing up to 14 years in jail if he is convicted of smuggling almost £1million worth of cannabis into the country.

David Green, 34, was arrested by HM Customs and Excise officials as he left a ferry from Calais in a van and tried to pass through the Eastern Docks at the Port of Dover in Kent.

His vehicle was stopped and searched by customs officers and the drugs were allegedly discovered.

It is believed he had travelled from Belgium.

Customs officers said the final destination of the vehicle, which was carrying a legitimate load in addition to the alleged drugs, was not known.

The total amount of the cannabis recovered was around 298kg, an amount with a street value of £900,000.

Green, of Stonehill Drive, off Brownhill Drive, Blackburn, was charged with importation of illegal drugs on August 3.

If convicted of the offence he faces a maximum sentence of 14 years in prison.

He appeared before magistrates in Dover for a committal hearing on September 20 where the case was sent to crown court.

He was remanded in custody.

Green's next court appearance will be for a plea and directions hearing at Canterbury Crown Court next Monday where he is expected to enter a plea to the charge.

A spokesman for HM Customs and Excise in Dover said: "A man is due to appear in court after he was arrested by customs and excise officials after a quantity of illegal drugs was allegedly discovered in a vehicle at the docks."