Three men have been jailed as part of a covert investigation into organised crime in Essex and southern England in which £140,000 of drugs were seized.

David Newton, Jake Duhig and Kristopher Huckle were all sentenced at Basildon Crown Court for their role in the conspiracy to supply cocaine.

Det Chief Insp Josie Hayes, of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, said: “This was an organised and lucrative business stretching across a wide area and each of the defendants performed different roles within the conspiracy.

“Duhig acted as the custodian, storing the drugs at his address, while Newton and Huckle were couriers who took the drugs to customers.

“Overall, class A drugs worth about £140,000 have been taken off the streets as a result of this investigation and will continue to pursue organised crime groups who operate in our communities.”

Essex Police launched a covert surveillance operation in February 2015 to monitor the movements of organised criminals operating in Essex, London and Southampton.

Newton 32, was arrested after officers tried to stop the Volkswagen Golf he was driving in Sauls Bridge Close, Witham, on August 6. He rammed the police car in an attempt to escape and ran off, but was arrested after officers gave chase.

Cocaine worth around £2,500 was found in the Golf. When police searched his home in Calamint Road, Witham, they found cannabis worth about £1,500.

Police executed a warrant at the home of Duhig, 28, in Adey Close, Southampton, on August 27, and seized cocaine with a street value of about £17,800.

Huckle, 38, of no fixed address in Dagenham, was arrested on September 17. He was charged with conspiracy to supply cocaine, which he admitted at a court hearing this February.

Duhig was charged with conspiracy to supply cocaine, possession of amphetamine and possession of cannabis. He denied the charges but was found guilty at Basildon Crown Court on Wednesday.

Newton was charged with conspiracy to supply cocaine, dangerous driving and possession of cannabis. He pleaded guilty to all the charges.

Duhig was jailed for seven years, Huckle for six years and eight months, and Newton for five-and-a-half years.

Two other men arrested in connection with the investigation had been jailed in 2015. Cocaine worth around £32,400 was seized from one’s home address and the other was found with a kilo of the drug.