Three men have been sentenced to more than eight years in prison the largest seizure of heroin in the UK by police.

More than 100 officers from Thames Valley Police took part in dawn raids across 11 addresses, including six in Oxford and one in the Cherwell area, on August 13 last year.

Cash, cars and a total of 27kg of mephedrone were seized as part of the operation to clamp down on the drug, also known as M-Kat or Meow Meow.

Later Ciaran Macdonagh, aged 38, of Northampton Street, Oxford, pleaded guilty to one count of conspire to supply a class B controlled drug, one count of possession of a controlled drug of class A, cocaine, and one count of possession of a controlled drug of class B, cathinone derivative.

Nazar Vishal , aged 37, of Danvers Road, Oxford, pleaded guilty to three counts of conspire to supply a class B controlled drug.

James Screeton, aged 28, of Ashhurst Way, Oxford, pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to supply a class B controlled drug and was jailed for 44 months at Oxford Crown Court yesterday.

He also received a further sentence of four months and four weeks after admitting committing further offences while on bail. 

Macdonagh was sentenced to 16 months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years, and Vishal was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment at a previous hearing on 4 August.

Jivani Hussain, aged 52, of Kenilworth Road, Ashford, Surrey, was found not guilty of one count of conspire to supply a class B controlled drug following a four-day trial.

Investigating officer Det Insp Bruce Riddell of the Serious and Organised Crime Unit said: “This was a challenging investigation for the operation team as the crime group were well organised and established. Their offending was carried out across Oxford, Abingdon, Banbury, Aylesbury and London.

“Through dedicated work the investigation team identified and evidenced the members, customers and the criminal activity of the group. This led to the largest seizure of Mephedrone in the United Kingdom when twenty seven kilograms were recovered from a vehicle that was stopped just after Vishal Nazar was seen to load a number of bags into it.

“The use of Mephedrone and Ketamine are emerging issues within the drugs market and even though they are Class B drugs, then can cause significant health problems to users.

“The sentences show that Thames Valley Police, working together with partners and the support of local communities, will continue to disrupt and dismantle organised crime groups involved in all types of crime."