Drugs gang from Brent jailed for a total of 43 years

A gang who planned to flood the streets of Brent with drugs have been jailed for a total of 43 years following two police operations.

The 26 males age from 15 to 49 were arrested and subsequently charged with drugs offences following the intelligence-led initiative by the Met’s Operation Trident Central Gangs Unit

Officers stormed homes in south Kilburn as part of Operation Grissino on January 23 and raids on the Stonebridge estate took place a week later in Operation Gerbon.

They seized crack cocaine, heroin, various drugs paraphernalia and significant sums of money during both operations.

They also uncovered a cannabis factory.

The Times witnessed both operations which were carried out at dawn.

Apart from a 17-year-old who was sentenced at North West London Juvenile Court all were tried at Harrow Crown Court.

The first sentence was handed down in March but reporting restriction were in place until the final person was jailed last week.

DCI Tim Champion, from Trident, said: “This is a great example of the proactive work Trident conducts with local boroughs to tackle violent gang members involved in the supply of harmful drugs.

“By successfully removing the negative role models and their gang associates within the local community we are hoping to prevent young people from joining gangs in the first place.

“Being in prison it is not a positive experience.

“There is nothing trendy about having a criminal record. It only makes it harder to get a job or into further education. “There is nothing untouchable about being involved in violence and crime. It can lead to getting arrested, sent to prison, seriously injured or even killed.

“We cannot tackle gang violence alone. We are working with partners, agencies and communities to offer ways out of gangs and divert young people away from what can become a very destructive path.”

Click on the photo gallery to see 12 of the men who were sentenced to more than two years for a variety of drug offences.