A drugs dealer with links to Cornwall has been jailed after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine with a street value of nearly £1.7 million.

Keith Wadsworth, of no fixed address, was part of an organised crime group, from which three members have now been jailed for a combined 28 and a half years.

Wadsworth, 38, was sentenced to seven years and six months, while his fellow gang members, 29-year-old Saqib Hussain and 22-year-old Trae Wolfe, 22, received jail terms of 11 years and six months, and nine years and six months respectively.

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Trae Wolfe (left) and Saqib Hussain (right). Photo: National Crime Agency

They were caught following a major operation by the joint National Crime Agency and Metropolitan Police’s Organised Crime Partnership (OCP), which seized 20 kilos of cocaine.

In October last year, officers saw Hussain park his Peugeot van at an address in Luton. He was then met by a VW Passat being driven by Wadsworth, which had Wolfe as a passenger. The two vehicles were parked boot to boot.

Wadsworth then transferred two black bags from the boot of his car into Hussain’s van. Officers moved in and detained all three males for the purpose of a drugs search.

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The drugs seized (above and below). Photos: NCA

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When searching the van, investigators found a sophisticated, purpose-built hidden compartment, where the spare wheel would normally be. They recovered 20 kilos of high-purity cocaine from the two sacks.

All three were then arrested for conspiracy to supply class A drugs.

Officers then discovered a similar sophisticated purpose-built concealment in the boot of the VW Passat used by Wadsworth and Wolfe, used to hide the drugs prior to handing them over to Hussain.

On Hussain's mobile phone investigators found pictures of large quantities of drugs, the majority being class A and further photographs of millions of pounds of criminal cash.

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The hidden compartment in the van where the drugs were found (above and below). Photos: NCA

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Matt McMillan, operations manager at the OCP, said: “Seizing this quantity of cocaine will have disrupted this organised crime group, damaging their reputation with other criminals they conduct business with.

“It is these types of operations that are fundamental in tackling the spread of organised crime across the UK.

“We know that those involved in the supply of drugs perpetuate the culture of violence and we will use all the specialist capabilities available to us to combat this threat. I have no doubt the public are safer now these men are behind bars.”

The trio were sentenced at Kingston Crown Court in London yesterday.