SMUGGLERS who hid £180,000 worth of tobacco behind a false wall in a lorry they were travelling in have been jailed for 12 months each.

Latvians Uldis Krievkalns, 50, and Vilnis Skunstins, 54 , were intercepted by Border Force after they arrived in the UK at Harwich International Port in May of this year.

After a search of the vehicle more than 900kg of raw tobacco was found stashed behind a false wall in the shower cubicle of the coach they were travelling in.

Both men admitted smuggling when they were sentenced at Chelmsford Crown Court on Tuesday and were also ordered to pay £900 in court costs each.