Fifteenth member of major drug gang jailed

A fifteenth member of a major drugs gang has been sentenced, bringing the group’s total jail time to more than 90 years.

An investigation into the wide-scale supply of Class A and B substances in the county revealed the mass distribution and supply of substances had taken place in the Worthing area between March 2020 and June 2021.

Warrants and stop checks were executed, leading to cocaine and cannabis with a combined street value of £480,000 to £600,000 and some £157,795 cash being seized.

During this time, police identified two local organised crime groups (OCGs) who were purchasing large quantities of cocaine and cannabis from other OCGs in London, Luton and elsewhere, and selling them on for profit locally.

Police were able to identify a number of suspects.

Read more: Man 'lucky to be alive' after emergency accommodation ceiling falls on his head

Some 14 were previously convicted and are currently serving time in prison.

Fifteenth member Terrence White, 34, of Mill Road, Worthing, is the latest to join them, having pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine.

At Lewes Crown Court on May 31, he was sentenced to four years and ten months’ imprisonment.

One of the previous defendants – Ergest Tarja, 31, of no fixed address – was sentenced to ten years and six months’ imprisonment for conspiracy to supply cocaine and being concerned in the supply of cocaine. However, his sentence was increased by a further two years and six months following a successful ruling by the Court of Appeal.

This takes the current jail time for those involved in the investigation, known as Operation Smith, to 90 years and four months.

Detective Constable Jon Freeman, of SOCU (Serious Organised Crime Unit), said: “This is a remarkable result which demonstrates our commitment to protecting our communities and bringing offenders to justice.

“However, our work doesn’t stop here. Our enquiries are ongoing to determine if anyone else linked to these organised crime groups has committed offences, and if so, we will hold them to account.”