A TOP Government minister is visiting Dover today.

Home Secretary Alan Johnson has met UK Border Agency staff at the Eastern Docks. The team told him about their work at the border to protect the UK from smuggled drugs, weapons, cigarettes and dangerous goods. He also heard how they uncovered and seized half a million cigarettes criminals were trying to smuggle into the country hidden in secret concrete-lined false floors welded into a lorry on February 9.

Mr Johnson said: "I have seen first-hand the tireless efforts of the UK Border Agency's frontline officers who work to detect and intercept illegal goods and banned items.

"These officers work 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to prevent smuggling, a destructive trade that finances international crime rings and supports gangs of drug runners and people traffickers.

"The cigarettes were undoubtedly headed for the black market, cheating the British taxpayer and undermining honest traders. The people who operate in this trade are destructive forces in our communities and have no scruples about who they sell their products to, including children."

During his visit, the Home Secretary saw detection technology used by frontline officers to crack down on organised smuggling rings. This includes a freight targeting system and a freight scanner being piloted at Dover.

Mr Johnson watched as UKBA staff questioned lorry drivers and used tools such as portable x-ray machines and fibro-scope cameras, which allow staff to search deep inside cargo containers.

Since the UK Border Agency was formed in April 2008 it has seized more than 1.4 billion cigarettes – worth some £194 million in tax revenue – and more than £370 million worth of illegal drugs.

In 2009 26,600 dangerous and prohibited weapons were seized.

The UK Border Agency is also working with the French Government to build on joint operations to reduce the number of illegal immigrants attempting to cross the border to the UK. An extra £15 million has been invested in a hi-tech pilot scheme in Calais. This will see the latest technology being used to boost searches of vehicles and goods heading for Britain.

Successful detection technology will then be rolled out to ports in Boulogne, Dunkirk and Coquelles.

*Secretary of State for Transport Lord Andrew Adonis has also visited Dover today. He arrived at Dover Priory station at 10.21am aboard the High Speed train with political heavyweights John Prescott and Michael Heseltine. The trio are making various stops to highlight the benefits of the high-speed route.