NINE members of an international drugs gang led by a North-East mastermind are tonight (Friday, September 12) beginning lengthy jail terms for their roles in smuggling millions of pounds worth of amphetamine into the UK.

The Northern Echo:

TOP ROW: Michael Watts, 47, Jarrow; Neil Hoban, 53, Stockton; Kevin Murray, 40, Nottingham. SECOND ROW: David Faulkner, 53, Northampton; David Drew, 59, Northampton; Abdur Khan, 38, Slough. THIRD ROW: Andrew Yates, 29, Washington; Aaron Nesbitt, 28, Stockton; Kirk Anderson, 36, Stockton. BOTTOM ROW: Darren Herbert, 43, Northampton; Michael Li, 47, Corby.

The organisation was smashed after police seized the biggest drugs haul ever seen in the region when they raided a lock-up in Topcliffe, near Thirsk, North Yorkshire, in January last year.

Newcastle Crown Court was told heroin and amphetamine with a street value of £55m in this one consignment alone, had been brought into the country after being packed in old furniture in Holland.

The drugs were destined for sale in the North-East and Scotland.

The gang was led by Michael Watts, 47, of Jarrow, helped by his right-hand man Neil Hoban, 53, of Stockton. Both lived lavish lifestyles, driving the latest luxury supercars.

Passing sentence Judge Penny Moreland said the operation was “conducted with a high degree of sophistication and professionalism".

She added: “The supply of amphetamine was undertaken on an enormous scale.

“There there was one seizure during the course of the conspiracy where over 408kg of amphetamine with a street value of £42m was seized.

“That amount represents one importation, but the total weight of amphetamine brought into the country during the course of the operation must exceed that one seizure by many times.”

The Northern Echo:

Sentencing Watts to ten years and two months in jail for conspiring to supply class B drugs, the Judge said: “Your role was central in the operation of this amphetamine supply chain.

“I am satisfied you were directing and organising the buying and selling of amphetamine on a commercial scale.

“You were quite clearly also involved in laundering the proceeds of the sale.”

Speaking after the hearing, Detective Superintendent Tim Walker said: "Operation Patton was a North East Special Operations Unit launched to disrupt the activity of an organised crime group operating not just in the North-East but throughout the country and abroad.

"This group were responsible for importing drugs from Europe, under the guise of transporting furniture - duping legitimate removal companies, who were unaware of their illegal activities, to import their drugs.”

He added: “Not only has this investigation seen a huge amount of drugs taken out of supply but a crime group has been disrupted and those involved now jailed."

The NERSOU includes specialist staff from the Northumbria, Durham and Cleveland police forces.

Michael Watts, 47, of Bedeburn Road, Jarrow, Neil Hoban, 53, of Casson Way ,Stockton, David Faulkner, 53, David Drew, 49, and Darren Herbert, 43, all of Northampton, and Michael Li, 47, Corby, Northhants, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class B controlled drugs.

Andrew Yates, 29, of Fountains Close, Washington and Abdur Khan, 38, of Slough, admitted money laundering charges. Kevin Murray, 40, of Nottingham was convicted of conspiracy to supply class B.

Aaron Nesbitt, 28, of Manor Way, Stillington, and Kirk Anderson, 36, of Etherley Walk, Stockton, were sentenced to 14 and 10 years, respectively, for possession with the intent to supply at a previous hearing.