Gang Jailed For £100m Drug Ring

More than 30 people, including some from Essex, have been sentenced to a total of more than 200 years in prison.

The men were part of a £100m cocaine smuggling and money laundering gang and also included a fire fighter, who was honoured for saving victims of the July 7th attacks.

In 2008 police used a JCB to smash into a house during one of dozens of raids targeting the gang.

Anthony Dennis, 43, of Bassett Lane, Ongar, Essex, pleaded guilty to five counts of money laundering and was sentenced to 12 months suspended.

Gavin Silver, 48, of Philmead Road South, Benfleet, Essex, was sentenced to 15 months having pleaded guilty to money laundering.

Joseph Mulvey, 25, of Dry Street, Basildon, was sentenced to five and a half years having pleaded guilty to money laundering and conspiracy to supply cocaine.

Jason Topsom, 46, of Great Amwell, Ware, Herts, was sentenced to a total of 27 years having been convicted of conspiracy to supply cocaine (one ton). He also pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a firearm.

Daniel Logan, 32, of Mayland Quay, Chelmsford, was sentenced to 15 months having pleaded guilty to money laundering.

Robert Gregory, 41, of Oak Avenue, Crays Hill, Billericay, was sentenced to two years and nine months having pleaded guilty to money laundering and supplying steroids.

Dawn Adams, 36, of Clay Hill Road, Basildon, Essex, was sentenced to 20 weeks imprisonment (suspended for two years) and 100 hours unpaid work after admitting money laundering.

Two other men remain on the run.

The court heard how ringleaders had netted more than £100m in cash via a run-down but heavily fortified taxi garage under the Westway in Paddington, central London.

Royal Oak Taxis received huge consignments of cocaine ready for repackaging and distribution and served as a one-stop money laundering shop for crooks who swapped bags of sterling for smaller 500 euro notes.

Detective Superintendent Steve Richardson, head of the SIS, said Operation Eaglewood had dealt a "huge blow" to the British class A drugs industry.

He said: "These criminals had been living the lives of wealthy businessmen through their criminal activity. The lives they are now leading could not be more different."