Two Epping Forest men were members of a ‘complex and organised drug syndicate’ which have been jailed for over 74 years.

Officers seized over 3kg of cocaine with a street value of £138,000, 4.4kg of MDMA with a street value of £560,000 and £60,733 in cash after arrests in Hertfordshire, Essex, London, Slough and Reading.

On Friday (October 3) the last member was jailed after twelve men and a woman pleaded guilty to various drugs offences at earlier hearings.

Toby Donovan, 46, from Buckhurst Hill, was jailed for two years and eight months for possession of cocaine and attempted possession with intent to supply.

He was caught with 26.2 grams of cocaine with a street value of £1,048 and £4,250 in cash.

Dehl Carey, 37, from Loughton, was sentenced to four-and-a-half years after pleading guilty to possessing 4.5kg of MDMA worth £560,000 with intent to supply.

A covert investigation launched in 2013 Eastern Region Special Operations Unit (ERSOU) found the gang had used a recruitment agency as a front for the drug dealing.

Det Insp Gary Bloomfield, from ERSOU, said: “This was a complex and organised crime syndicate which was supplying a large amount of drugs across the eastern region.

“ERSOU conducted a large scale investigation into their activity to ensure we could dismantle the operation, seizing a significant quantity of drugs which had been destined for the streets of our cities and towns and securing enough evidence to ensure they received lengthy custodial sentences.

“Drug trafficking is by no means a victimless crime and causes misery to communities through addiction and associated anti-social behaviour and other criminality.

“This case should send a clear message that we will not tolerate the use and supply of drugs and will continue to target and disrupt drug supply networks and will seek to bring to justice anyone involved in this crime.”

12 other members of the gang were given between 6 month suspended sentences and eight years in prison.