Drugs with an estimated street value of £750,000 were seized by Customs following a police chase.

A total of 250 kilos of suspected cannabis was taken for analysis following the seizure yesterday morning.

Customs officials acting on intelligence information watched as an 8.5m-long inflatable powerboat moored at Splash Point in Seaford.

They continued to stand by as the powerboat driver off-loaded 11 sailbags into a vehicle parked on the groyne.

A Customs and Excise spokesman said the boat, which can reach60 knots (69mph) and has a 300 horsepower engine, sailed to Newhaven where it met another vehicle. He said the boat was moored and the driver taken back to the groyne to collect the sailbags. A chase followed as both the Ford Fiesta and Ford Transit van refused to stop for police.

At one point during the pursuit, the Transit van hit a tree when its driver momentarily lost control.

A Customs spokesman said: "They weren't prepared to stop despite police chasing them.

"They were weaving around the road while police were behind them. In the end they had to be forcibly stopped.

"It appears they had earlier rendezvoused at Newhaven before going back to the groyne where the sailbags were contained in the vehicle. They then made off at speed."

The Fiesta was stopped on the B2109 while the Transit came to a halt in a dead end in nearby Iveagh Crescent, Newhaven.

Two men, aged 29 and 33, were arrested and were being quizzed by Customs officers at John Street police station in Brighton.