The drugs were found after gardaí stopped a vehicle at the Donore Road Industrial Estate in the town just before 1pm this afternoon.

Packages containing white powder, understood to be cocaine, were found during a search of the vehicle.

Gardaí estimate that the 20kgs of cocaine discovered is worth around €1.4m.

A man in his 30s was arrested and is being held at Drogheda Garda Station for questioning.

The search was part of an intelligence-led operation under Operation Stratus, which was set up a year ago to tackle criminality in Drogheda.

Gardaí say the operation is ongoing.