Eight men who were involved in the supply of kilogram amounts of high purity Class A drugs, across South Derbyshire and North West Leicestershire have been jailed for nearly 50 years between them.

They included one man from Moira, with others from Ashby and Coalville.

The group provided a service to thousands of customers 24 hours, seven days a week and made considerable cash profits.

The organised crime group conducted their business in a similar way to a legitimate company, with individuals allocated specific roles in purchase and supply, but the wares on offer were a significant amount of illegal drugs.

The investigation revealed the level of organisation involved and how runners were being controlled by those in leading roles.

Specific mobile telephones were used to run the illicit business, make deals and supply the drugs to customers between February and August 2017.

The contact numbers known as 'dealer lines' were used to make deals with people seeking to purchase cocaine. Onward suppliers were then contacted to make the deliveries.

At a hearing on Monday 10 December, 2018, seven of the defendants pleaded guilty to their part in the offences and the last remaining defendant pleaded guilty on Friday 11 January this year.

The defendants were sentenced at Leicester Crown Court on Monday.

Detective Inspector Lee Hunt of East Midlands Special Operations Unit, said: "These individuals attempted to cover their tracks by using multiple mobile phones to contact clients purchasing drugs from them.

"Our operation revealed the extent of their criminality and we are pleased they have all pleaded guilty to their part in the offences. Drugs are a blight on society; leading to further criminality to fund drugs habits and the

breakdown of relationships and families.

"We will continue to carry out these operations and target those individuals who supply and distribute these harmful substances."

Those convicted and sentenced were:-

• Xhevahir Driza, 35, of Fir Tree Walk, Moira, Swadlincote, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and was sentenced to eight years and three months in jail.

• Zenel Gashi, 29, of Blessington Road, Lewisham, London, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and was sentenced to eight years and three months in jail.

• Artjonil Sokolaj, 25, of Ashby Road, Ravenstone, Leicestershire, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, two counts of possession of a disguised firearm and one count of possession of a stun gun. He was sentenced to seven years in jail for the conspiracy and five years in prison for the firearms offences.

• Ardit Istrefaj, 22, of Market Street, Ashby, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and was sentenced to four years and six months in jail.

• Endrit Haziras, 26, of Swannington Road, Coalville, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and was sentenced to six years and six months in jail.

• Aldo Lleshi, 28, of Sports Bank Street, Lewisham, London, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and possessing/controlling a false document and was sentenced to 15 months in prison.

• Zaskoc Brahaj, 24, of Market Street, Ashby, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply Class A drugs and acquire/use/possess criminal property and was sentenced to seven years in jail

• Dritan Kastrati, 27, of Vernon Road, Sutton, London, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply Class A drugs and acquire/use/possess criminal property and was sentenced to five years in prison for the drugs offence and six months in jail for the false documents. This sentence is to run concurrently with the sentence for drugs.