MAn jAilED As pArt of mAjor Drugs gAng

A Yaxley man has been jailed for nine years after admitting his part in a major drugs network stretching across five counties. Michael Coughlin, ( 34), of Broadway, Yaxley was one of 15 men sentenced to a total of 68 years following a police operation in May last year.

Detectives from the EasternRegionSpecialOperations Unit (ERSOU) seized drugs, cash and a gun in a series of investigations spanning Essex, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire andNorthLon- don.

It began with a warrant in Chelmsford, Essex, inMaylast year, in which officers seized 15kgofcocaine, 1.5kgofcannabis, 4kgof ketamine andcash. Thatwarrantlinkedanumber of men from Essex and north Cambridgeshire to the supply of drugs.

Six men, including Coughlin, were jailed as a result.

ERSOU then set their sights on another group who hadbeenlinkedtothedefendants in the initial case.

A covert investigation was launched and identified several menwhowerecouriersor buyers from the initial gang.

Police seized 20kg of the class B drug amphetamines worth £250,000, in a number of seizures.

In total a further six men were convicted of conspiracy to supply controlled drugs, and were jailed last week.

Finally, in February officers seized 109kg of cannabis from storage containers in Poplar, London, and from the boot of an Audi stopped in Bethnal Green.

Three men were linked to the drugs and were convicted of conspiracy to supply class B drugs following a trial at St Albans CrownCourt. Theywere jailed earlier this month.

Detective Inspector Geoff Knight said: “Drugs devastate communities and we will continue to investigate, disruptandprosecuteanyoneinvolved in the use and supply.”

Michael Coughlin, who was part of a drugs gang. During the investigation into the gang a gun and drugs were seized.