Five men from Barking and Dagenham were among 11 sentenced to jail for drugs offences, police have said.

They were part of a group that was charged with conspiracy to supply controlled drugs and sentenced to a combined total of 118 years in prison yesterday.

Basildon Crown Court heard between October 2012 and March 2013 the activities of an Essex-based organised crime group were investigated by by the Essex and Kent Serious Crime Directorate.

They were dealing in vast quantities of cocaine supplied by an Albanian crime group and destined for the streets of Essex, police added.

Over several months a case against both groups was built culminating in the recovery of 10kg of cocaine and more than £575,000 in cash stored in a safe house.

Daniel Clark, 39, of Marlborough Road, was jailed four eight years while Saimir Neziri, 31, of Wythenshawe Road, was sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment.

Kevin Cavin, 27, of Thetford Gardens, received a sentence of nine years and four months and Louis Wilkinson, 31, of Hedgemans Way, was given nine years.

The four Dagenham men were sentenced alongside Barking resident Leart Berberi, 31, of Linsdell Road, who was jailed for 20 years.

Seven of the eleven pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity while the other four were found guilty of conspiracy to supply cocaine and money laundering after a 13-week trial at Basildon Crown Court last year.

While sentencing the group, Judge Owen Davies described them as being motivated by greed and said their activity had a huge potential effect on society.