TWO men have been jailed for a total of 15 years for running class A drugs factories.

Police raided three properties in Walnut Road, Warren Road and Saxon Close in Leyton, where equipment used to process and distribute heroin and cocaine were seized, along with barrels of paracetamol and caffeine, both commonly mixed with drugs to bulk-up supplies.

Two men were sentenced at Snaresbrook Crown Court today after being convicted at an earlier hearing on April 16, despite never being found in possession of the drugs.

Darren Williams, 32, of Walnut Road in Leyton, was found guilty of being producing heroin and cocaine, and possessing cannabis and sentenced to eight years in prison.

Hal McCollin, 33, of Gamuel Close in Walthamstow, was found guilty of producing heroin and sentenced to seven years in prison.

Officers from the Metropolitan Police's Serious and Organised Crime command carried out an investigation codenamed “Operation Marzipan” after receiving information that the pair were linked to the drug trade.

Undercover surveillance was carried out on a one-bedroom flat in Walnut Road and the men were seen entering the property, with Williams carrying a large carrier bag.

Minutes later, officers raided the flat but the pair had already fled.

They were arrested soon after and the bag was discovered to contain four kilos of paracetamol and caffeine.

When questioned, Williams claimed the white powder was flour. He also insisted the equipment found in his flat belonged to someone else.

He admitted possessing latex gloves and a mask with traces of heroin, but claimed they were for decorating.

He claimed the scales had been used to measure his personal supply of cannabis and cocaine.

When McCollin was searched, police found keys for a home in Warren Road, Leyton, which was found to contain a hydraulic press and a plate coated in heroin.

Officers found a further 53 kilos of caffeine and paracetamol in barrels at an address linked to Williams in Saxon Close, Leyton.

McCollin refused to comment when questioned by police. Det Insp Colin Stephenson of the Serious and Organised Crime command said: "It is unusual for drug dealers to be convicted in the absence of the drugs themselves, however the jury in this case concluded that the evidence against these men was compelling.

"The equipment found at their properties would have allowed McCollin and Williams to process large quantities of Class A drugs, and this would have eventually found its way on to the streets, with all the usual damaging consequences for society at large.”