SPECIALIST investigators who led an operation which snared a drugs smuggler have released pictures revealing how the criminal tried to hide his illicit haul.

Irish national John Mullen, 67, was jailed for nine years after he was caught trying to smuggle £7.8 million worth of Class A drugs through Harwich International Port.

Mullen was rumbled in February this year after Border Force Officers used an X-ray device to locate a false floor in his lorry trailer.

Harwich and Manningtree Standard: Concealed - examination of the lorry's trailer revealed a hidden floor, where the packages were foundConcealed - examination of the lorry's trailer revealed a hidden floor, where the packages were found

Within, they found a haul of hard drugs including 73kg of cocaine, with a street value of £5.8 million, 51kg of MDMA with a street value of £2 million, and 2.5kg of heroin with a wholesale value of £45,000.

At a hearing at Chelmsford Crown Court on Tuesday, Mullen, of Clara, County Offaly, was jailed for nine years.

READ MORE: Disabled pensioner jailed for nine years after smuggling £7.8m of hard drugs into port

The court heard he told police in interview he had been "threatened" into carrying out the job as a means of repaying a debt owed by his son.

Harwich and Manningtree Standard: Drugs - within the hidden floor of the trailer officers discovered packages containing hundreds of kilograms of illicit substancesDrugs - within the hidden floor of the trailer officers discovered packages containing hundreds of kilograms of illicit substances

The court heard 129 packages were seized after a search.

The National Crime Agency led the subsequent investigation.

Jaque Beer, branch commander, said: “Through working with partners we were able to secure this conviction and stop a considerable amount of drugs from reaching the streets of the UK.

“Class A drugs are always linked to serious and organised crime, with their supply reliant on exploitation, violence and intimidation.

“Targeting those criminals who facilitate the drugs trade is a priority for the NCA and we will stop at nothing to disrupt them.”

Harwich and Manningtree Standard:

Passing sentence at the hearing, Judge Christopher Morgan said the amount of drugs seized was "commercial, if not industrial" in quantity.

He added: “The advantage to you was simply seeing, if it is right, the debt owed by your son paid off, whether that would materialise I simply cant say."