Eighteen men have been jailed after the police uncovered a vast drug supply network in east London.
In total 42 men have been convicted, disrupting the supply of millions of pounds worth of drugs to Hampshire and Brighton, following a three-year investigation by officers from Hackney and Tower Hamlets.
Police found a dedicated drug network after they seized two phones in 2020 and accessed large amounts of data and messages.
The investigation found 14 supply lines which have now been closed.
Police also uncovered a sophisticated criminal network of men who pretended to be cab drivers to supply around 37 kilograms of drugs, including, cocaine, heroin, crack cocaine, MDMA, ketamine and cannabis.
Specialist officers carried out 49 search warrants, leading to 42 men being arrested and charged with drug supply offences.
Jewellery worth £54,000, £200,000 in cash, and drugs with a street value of £83,000 were also seized.
The final 18 men involved were sentenced at Snaresbrook Crown Court between Monday and Thursday.
Between them, they received more than 150 years in prison for their part in supplying illegal drugs.
The other 24 people convicted were jailed for more than 220 years for their part in the offences.
Detective Superintendent Georgina Zumeris said: “This investigation demonstrates Met officers going above and beyond to make London safe by removing drug dealers from the communities of east London.
“This is community crime-fighting at its best, removing offenders who impact the lives of those around them.
“The supply of drugs has devastating consequences on communities across London and beyond – it causes addiction, having devastating health impacts, as well as leading to anti-social behaviour and violence.”
The DSI added that four of the men arrested were suffering from drug addiction and officers ensured “they were safeguarded and supported after Rehabilitation Orders were put in place of custodial sentences”.
