Five members of an organised crime group involved in the large-scale supply of cocaine have been jailed following a lengthy and complex investigation by specialist detectives from West Yorkshire Police.

Officers from the Force’s serious and organised crime team recovered 45kg of the drug with a potential street value of £3.8million when they moved in to arrest the key members of the gang in June and August this year.

A total of 25kg of ketamine was also recovered during the operation along with more than £100,000 in cash.

Enquiries showed the gang had been supplying wholesale amounts of cocaine to other organised criminal groups across the UK between January and August.

Peter Ward, 30, of Sycamore Green, Pontefract, Talib Khan, 40, of Thornhill Street, Wakefield, Mark Beattie, 43, of Layton Lane, Rawdon, Liam Johnson, 29, of no fixed address, and Arwel Edmunds, 27, of Cross Green Lane, Leeds,

placeholder image — Peter Ward, 30, of Sycamore Green, Pontefract, Talib Khan, 40, of Thornhill Street, Wakefield, Mark Beattie, 43, of Layton Lane, Rawdon, Liam Johnson, 29, of no fixed address, and Arwel Edmunds, 27, of Cross Green Lane, Leeds,

The men pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine and were sentenced at Leeds Crown Court today and yesterday.

Liam Johnson, 29, of no fixed address, and Arwel Edmunds, 27, of Cross Green Lane, Leeds, were each jailed for 11 years and three months.

Talib Khan, 40, of Thornhill Street, Wakefield, and Peter Ward, 30, of Sycamore Green, Pontefract, were each given prison terms of five years and seven months.

Mohammed Muneeb, 18, of St Wilfrids Grove, Leeds, was sentenced to four years and one month.

Mark Beattie, 43, of Layton Lane, Rawdon, Leeds, who was arrested as part of the same operation was sentenced to seven years and six months for a separate conspiracy to supply cocaine in the Huddersfield area between March and May.

Restraint orders have been put in place which total more than £1.6 million in relation to properties owned by subjects of the operation.

Detective Inspector Paul Hutchinson, who led the investigation, said: “This group were heavily involved in the organised supply of drugs, and the very significant quantities recovered during our investigation show the scale of their criminal enterprise and the profits they would have been making.

“The drugs trade can sometimes be seen as a victimless crime, but the reality is very different. It is the single biggest driver of serious crime in the UK and fuels violence and anti-social behaviour in our communities.

Enquiries showed the gang had been supplying wholesale amounts of cocaine to other organised criminal groups across the UK between January and August.

“Around half of all homicides, thefts and robberies are drug-related, and nearly two thirds of those arrested for domestic abuse test positive for drugs.

“Organised crime groups target some of the most vulnerable in society, exploiting them for financial gain, status and criminal influence, while causing significant harm to these individuals and our communities.

“West Yorkshire Police remains firmly committed to taking down those who involve themselves in the organised supply of drugs, and we hope the successful outcome of this investigation will provide some reassurance to the public.”