A TURKISH criminal gang including a man from Clayhall were sentenced for their part in the trafficking of up to £17 million worth of drugs.

Najam Dar, 37, of Dunspring Lane, was sentenced to ten years for conspiring to supply heroin, and ordered to serve four years remaining from a previous drugs offence.

In August 2002, a drugs courier was arrested in possession of six kg of heroin. The class A drug was destined for Dar, a customer of Recip Yilmaz.

The National Crime Squad's investigation, Operation Seward, started looking at the activities of Yilmaz, of Enfield, in February 2002.

Yilmaz, 46, was considered to be the UK's most prolific drug dealer during 2002. In March this year he was sentenced to 30 years at Woolwich Crown Court for supplying heroin.

Officers seized £13 million worth of heroin and two-tonnes of cannabis resin, with a street value of more than £5 million.

Money made from the drug deals was filtered back to Turkey, where detectives believe it was invested in residential property.

Reporting restrictions and multiple trials meant the case could not be reported on until July 27.

Det Supt Bradley Jones said after the hearing: "This operation has been a major success for the National Crime Squad. It shows what can be achieved by investing time and effort into targeting an organised crime group.

"The group was responsible for the availability of large quantities of drugs on our streets and fuelling drug taking, drug-related violence and street crime.

"Make no mistake about it, these individuals were motivated by financial greed and had no regard for the misery inflicted on local communities."