Fifteen members of drugs gangs who supplied class A drugs on the streets of Norfolk and Suffolk have been sentenced to a total of more than 30 years in custody.
As a result of local intelligence police launched an undercover operation, code named Nuffield, targeting groups of drug dealers operating in the Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft areas.
Norwich Crown Court heard that as part of the operation two test purchasing officers were deployed to Yarmouth and Lowestoft and 'achieved a considerable degree of success' in late 2014 and early 2015.
The test officers bought drugs from groups of runners or foot soldiers they had under observation and who were led by Colin Owusu-Asokwa who was said to have played a 'very important and leading role' in the organising of the drugs.
Asowka was said to have 'overall control' of two street dealing groups involved in the conspiracy.
The operation resulted in a number of drugs warrants being executed in both towns in March this year with several defendants being arrested as part of a series of dawn raids.
Several addresses in Yarmouth and Lowestoft were targeted, including High Street, Marine Parade and London Road South in Lowestoft and Nelson Road North, Middlegate and Vincent Close in Yarmouth.
Fifteen members of the gang appeared yesterday, some via videolink, to be sentenced after admitting their involvement in the conspiracy to supply class A drugs.
Eleven of those sentenced by Judge Anthony Bate were given custodial sentences totalling more than 31 years in custody after previously pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply class A drugs.
The biggest sentence was handed to Colin Owusu-Asokwa, 26, of London, was jailed for 54 months.
Jonathan Mr Morgans, for Asokwa, said his client was in a 'significant' but not leading role.
Other defendants sentenced yesterday:
• Steven Alexander, 34, of no fixed abode, was jailed for 28 months.
Jonathan Morgans, mitigating, said he played a 'lesser role'.
• Paul Brason, 32, of Vincent Close, Yarmouth, was jailed for 24 months.
Mr Morgans, mitigating, said he was a 'foot soldier' who has had long standing problems with drugs.
• Paul Plumb, 42, of Nelson Road North, Yarmouth, was jailed for 32 months. -
Michael Clare, mitigating, said he was a 'hopeless heroin addict' who was 'easy prey to those higher up the operation'.
• Sarah-Jane Morris, 36, of Middlegate, Yarmouth, was sentenced to two years imprisonment, suspended for two years.
Mr Morgans, for Morris, said she played a 'lesser role'.
• Luke Stephens, 27, of Milton Road East, Lowestoft, was jailed for 32 months.
Ian James, for Stephens, said he was 'acting 'under instruction'.
• Roxanne Love, 21, of London Road South, Lowestoft, was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment suspended for 18 months.
Lori Tucker, for Love, said she was 'dragged into the operation'.
• George Gardiner, 29, of Crown Road, Yarmouth, was sentenced to two years imprisonment suspended for 12 months.
Mr Morgans, for Gardiner, said he got involved through the desperation of addiction.
• Chase Staff, 25, of South Market Road, Yarmouth, was sentenced to a total of 36 and a half months.
Mr Clare, for Staff, said his role was 'limited'. -
• Ali Edwards, 23, of Victoria Road, Yarmouth, was jailed for 38 months. -
Paul Roach, mitigating, said he was a 'foot soldier'.
• Elie Saba, 29, Crown Road, Yarmouth, was jailed for three years. -
Melanie Benn, mitigating, said he got involved 'to pay off a debt'.
• A 17-year-old boy from Yarmouth, who cannot be named, was given a 12 month youth rehabilitation order.
Mrs Tucker, mitigating, said he was 'working as a runner'.
• Liam Allen, 19, of Cambridgeshire, was sentenced to three and a half years detention.
Miss Benn, for Allen said he 'allowed himself to be led by others'
• Jonathan Kiff, 24, of no fixed abode, was jailed for 28 months.
Jude Durr, for Kiff, said he played a 'limited role under direction'.
• Gary Lynch, 39, of London, who admitted two counts of possession with intent to supply, was jailed for three years.
Jonathan Goodman, mitigating, said he was a 'courier'.
There are still other defendants to be sentenced as part of the operation.
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