The fourth and final member of an organised crime group has been jailed for his role in attempting to flood streets in the North East with cocaine.
In February, three men were handed jail terms totalling more than 30 years after previously admitting their role in a large-scale operation of supplying Class A drugs.
It followed a lengthy investigation carried out by officers from Northumbria Police’s priority and organised crime team.
The investigation came to a head when officers arrested four men following a raid on one of the suspect’s home addresses, which uncovered a haul of £243,000 cash and five kilos of cocaine.
On Friday at Newcastle Crown Court , the fourth member of the group, Brendan Kevane, 49, of Pendalar, Caernarfon, was sentenced to seven years and two months behind bars for his role in the operation.
He had previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.
Earlier this year, Raymond Curran, his brother Gary Curran, and Gerrard Burke were jailed after they also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.
Raymond Curran, 56, of Laurel Street, Throckley , was sentenced to 12 years and nine months behind bars.
Gary Curran, 51, of Adelaide House, Newcastle was sentenced to 10 years and two months, while Burke, 58, of King Edward Street, Gateshead was sentenced to seven years and 10 months.
Speaking after the sentencing, senior investigating officer Detective Inspector Don Gibson, from Northumbria Police, said: “This is a fantastic result which will see members of an organised crime group spending a very lengthy time behind bars.
"Thanks to the hard work of everyone involved, these criminals have been deprived of a huge amount of assets.
"Hitting organised crime groups financially is a great tactic to cause lasting disruption and can often dismantle them completely. Thanks to this fantastic result, our communities are a safer place.
“I would like to take the opportunity to thank all those involved in bringing these offenders to justice.
“Under the banner of Operation Sentinel we will continue to fight serious and organised crime alongside the North East Regional Specialist Operations Unit (NERSOU), Durham and Cleveland police forces.”
