Two British lorry drivers held in Italy over £16m heroin haul found concealed between breaksticks boxes

Two British lorry drivers have been arrested in Italy after 20 million euro (£16 million) worth of heroin concealed between boxes of breadsticks was discovered by police at a ferry port.

The drivers were stopped by police as they arrived at the Adriatic port of Bari, southern Italy, from Greece, yesterday, the Daily Telegraph reported.

The drugs were discovered in the back of a lorry bound for Lancashire, England, during a routine check by customs officers and members of the Guardia di Finanza.

A video released by the Guardia shows officers unloading the white packages, wrapped in black plastic, stashed in between boxes of breadsticks.

Police told the Daily Telegraph that the heroin was of an exceptionally high quality and would have a street value of around £16 million.

A spokesman for the Foreign Office said today: "We can confirm the arrest of two British nationals on Monday, 26 November in Bari, Italy."

The drivers have been remanded in custody in a local jail and the lorry and drugs seized by customs officers.

Italian paper Corriere del Mezzogiorno reported that the drivers are a 32-year-old Scotsman and a 42-year-old Irishman.

PA