Gang members from Barking, Newbury Park, Silvertown and Upton Park have been jailed for a combined 18 years for their involvement in supplying Class A drugs into south Essex.

The group, known as the Mali Boys, included 20-year-old Brian William of Park Avenue in Barking, 19-year-old Munta Hoque of Lyndhurst Gardens in Newbury Park, 20-year-old Azman Ahamad of Constance Street in Silvertown and 21-year-old Oussema Oubari of Lucas Avenue in Upton Park.

Hashi Abdi, 27, of Gresley Close in Leicester, completed the quintet.

William, Hoque, Ahamad and Abdi were all charged with conspiracy or being concerned in the acquisition, retention, use or control of criminal property and conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, heroin and crack cocaine.

Oubari was charged with conspiracy to supply the Class A drug crack cocaine.

Barking and Dagenham Post: Drugs seized after police warrants in RomfordDrugs seized after police warrants in Romford (Image: Essex Police)

Sentencing the group at Basildon Crown Court on Friday - November 19 - Her Honour Judge Samantha Cohen praised the work undertaken by Essex Police’s Detective Constable Dan Brand during Operation Raptor South.

On September 9 last year, officers stopped a silver Ford Focus travelling to Southend on the A127 at Dawes Heath Road in Essex.

Barking and Dagenham Post: Oussema Oubari, 21, of Lucas Avenue in Upton ParkOussema Oubari, 21, of Lucas Avenue in Upton Park (Image: Essex Police)

As a marked police car blocked the Focus, officers from another vehicle ran towards the car and saw a man throw a bag of Class A drug wraps into the central reservation.

Ahamad left the car and ran from officers but was caught.

Barking and Dagenham Post: Azman Ahamad, 20, of Constance Street in Silvertown, NewhamAzman Ahamad, 20, of Constance Street in Silvertown, Newham (Image: Essex Police)

Three others were detained in the car and a large amount of Class A drugs were recovered.

Barking and Dagenham Post: Brian William, 20, of Park Avenue in BarkingBrian William, 20, of Park Avenue in Barking (Image: Essex Police)

After liaising with the Metropolitan Police Service, a warrant was executed in Norwich Crescent, Chadwell Heath.

The warrant saw Hashu Abdi arrested and £3,470 in cash seized, alongside seven mobile phones and just under 3,000 bottles of prescription medication which was being used to mix with the drugs.

Barking and Dagenham Post: 19-year-old Munta Hoque of Lyndhurst Gardens in Newbury Park19-year-old Munta Hoque of Lyndhurst Gardens in Newbury Park (Image: Essex Police)

A second warrant was executed nearby at an address linked to Abdi, in Oak Street, Romford, where more drugs were found.

All denied the charges but were found guilty by a jury after a two-week trial.

Barking and Dagenham Post: Hashi Abdi, 27, of Gresley Close in LeicesterHashi Abdi, 27, of Gresley Close in Leicester (Image: Essex Police)

At Friday's sentencing hearing, Abdi was jailed for a total of five years and one month, Ahamad was jailed for two years and seven months, William and Hoque for three years and six months and Oubari for three years and three months.