Essex organised drug dealing group jailed for total of 55 years
Seven people have been jailed after police carried out raids across the county in 2020
Specialist detectives in Essex have taken down an organised crime group, which was suppling Class A drugs across the county.
Police carried out raids in Grays, Wickford, Brentwood, and Canvey Island on the morning of October 7 2020.
During the operation, they seized thousands of pounds in cash as well as drugs and a firearm.
The group were identified after a mobile phone messaging service used by criminals, caled EncroChat, was broken into by police.
Before it was shut down it had 60,000 users worldwide, including about 10,000 in the UK.
The Essex based group, led by Michael Read, liaised with importers and arrange the collection of large quantities of cocaine.
It's thought they had paid more than ÂŁ100,000 for 3kg of cocaine in March or April 2020 and sold it for ÂŁ180,000.
Of the 11 people who were arrested, seven were handed jail sentences of over 55 years at Basildon Crown Count.
Those sentenced are as follows:
Michael Read, 54, of Crouch Road, Grays: Conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and transferring criminal property; 11 years and three months;
Mark Gooch, 38, of Sandringham Road, Pilgrims Hatch: Conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and transferring criminal property; Nine years and nine months;
Craig Phillips, 44, of Buckles Lane, South Ockendon: Conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and transferring criminal property; Five years and 10 months;
Mark Scarborough, 35, of Adams Glade, Rochford: Conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and transferring criminal property; Three years and four months;
Stephen Hart, 54, of Thornden Wood Road, Herne Bay: Conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, possession of a prohibited firearm, possession with intent to supply Class A drugs, producing Class B drug, and transferring criminal property; Nine years and five months;
Perry Revell, 40, of Boundary Lodge, Cratfield, Halesworth: Conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, money laundering, and transferring criminal property; Five years and 10 months;
Glen Houghton, 41, of St Peters Street, Lowestoft: Conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, possession with intent to supply Class B drugs, and transferring criminal property - Nine years and five months;
Jeremy Goldner, 54, of Northolm, Edgware: Conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and transferring criminal property - Two years and four months suspended;
Lisa Warner, 45, of Cambridge Road, Canvey Island: Conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and transferring criminal property - Four years suspended.