A MAN has been arrested after £13million worth of drugs were discovered in Grays.

The 400 kilo haul of cocaine, amphetamine and cannabis was bagged up awaiting distribution at a warehouse in Oliver Close.

Officers from the Metropolitan Police were alerted to the pallets after they stopped a lorry on the London-bound carriageway of the A12 at Maldon on Monday.

The lorry was not carrying any drugs, but suspicious paperwork led them to the warehouse in Grays, where big holdalls packed with the illegal substances were waiting for collection.

The driver of the lorry, a man aged 40, was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of drugs and was remanded in custody at an East London police station.

Tests will now be carried out on the drugs, thought to have a street value of around £13million.

It is not known where the drugs were going or where they had come from, but police were set to continue their inquiries this week.

More than 35 kilos of cocaine was among the haul that also consisted of 270 kilos of amphetamine and 100 kilos of cannabis.

Acting Det Insp Tim Grinsted said: “This significant seizure will prevent a huge amount of drugs from ending up on the streets of London.

“The Central Task Force will continue to pursue organised criminals who profit from the misery of others.”