FIVE men and one woman have been sentenced for their part in a major drugs conspiracy involving an organised crime group.

The conspiracy saw drugs at a wholesale level supplied and transported between West Yorkshire, Middlesbrough and Darlington, along with large amounts of cash.

In total drugs with a street value of £1.25m were recovered by officers as part of Operation Deadlock, £105,000 cash, as well as a double barrelled shotgun.

Prosecuting at Teesside Crown Court, Stephen Grattage said the investigation, which began in October 2013, saw officers carry out covert surveillance on 20 separate meetings involving the exchange of packages containing drugs or cash.

A number of individuals have already been sentenced for their role in the drugs ring.

On Friday, Keith Hall, 31, of Holtby Walk, Middlesbrough, who had denied conspiracy to supply heroin and cocaine, but was convicted after a trial, was jailed for seven years, three months by Judge Sean Morris.

He was described as playing a significant role, although in mitigation it was claimed he was “holiday relief” in the operation for a “Mr Big” who was on a break in Spain.

Adam Rooney, 31, of Wibsey Avenue, Middlesbrough, who admitted two conspiracy charges, was jailed for seven years, six months.

Alasdair Campbell, for Rooney, claimed he was “not much more than a courier”.

Another Teesside man, Ross Walker, of Girton Avenue, Middlesbrough, who had a bag containing drugs thrown to him and was told to run during an incident in the town when police disrupted drug dealing activity, was jailed for two years, four months.

The 21 year-old, who admitted conspiracy to supply heroin, was described as naïve and gullible in a pre-sentence report.

Three other defendants Tilitha Douglas, Mohammed Shaffiq and Ervin Kessler received jail sentences of two years, suspended for 18 months, 12 months suspended for 18 months and nine months suspended for 18 months respectively.

They will also do unpaid work.

The court heard how 24-year-old Douglas, of Leopold Grove, Leeds, who admitted drugs offences, was a courier who travelled to Middlesbrough on the train with her three-year-old child and was believed to be carrying cash to pay for heroin.

She inadvertently asked a surveillance officer if there was anywhere she could eat in town, before returning to West Yorkshire.

Taxi driver Shaffiq, 48, of Talbot Gardens, Leeds, admitted being concerned in the supply of the drug M-Cat and 39-year-old Kessler, of Kennerleigh Walk, Bradford, pleaded guilty to possessing criminal property.

This concerned £19,680 in cash which was found under a child’s seat in a BMW he drove from Bradford to Darlington.