A GROUP of men accused of running a cocaine empire have walked free from court after a trial costing at least £1.9m and a police investigation lasting almost two years.

It took just two hours today for the jury to acquit all nine men, including five from Oxford and one each from Deddington and Didcot, of charges of conspiracy to supply cocaine, following an 11 month trial at Oxford Crown Court.

The court case is one of the longest held at Oxford and is estimated to have cost the taxpayer at least £1.9m.

However, that figure does not include the price of keeping defendants in prison cells during the trial or the eight-month police surveillance operation.

Last night the Crown Prosecution Service said it accepted the jury’s decision but insisted it was right to bring the case to court.

However, Elton Celbiqiri, 30, of St Margaret’s Road, East Oxford, said: “I thank God we had a jury. I still don’t know why the police thought we did this.”

The men were accused of diluting and pressing cocaine from a house in Mendip Heights, Didcot, and using homes in Bulan Road, Headington, and Garsington Road, Cowley, to deal the drugs across Oxfordshire and southern England.

The eight-month investigation and surveillance operation was carried out by Thames Valley Police’s Organised Crime Group.

The men, all from Albania, were arrested in raids in March 2008.

Mr Celbiqiri said: “They searched my house, my friend’s house and his friend’s house, and found nothing. My freedom was taken away from me for 20 months.”

Leon Cohadari, 32, of The Paddocks, Deddington, spent 17 months in custody.

He said: “It has been hell. I was taken away from my child when he was five months old and I’ve missed so much.

“I’m happy with British justice, but not with the police. They spent so much money and time on this investigation. Why?”

Father-of-three Oltjon Nezha, 36, of Mendip Heights, Didcot, was in custody for 18 months.

He said: “I’ve lost my job at BMW and I’ve lost my house. These past two years have destroyed my life.

“The British justice system is the best in the world but the police story was completely made up.”

Gention Haizaj, 28, of Alice Smith Square, Littlemore; Elmand Koshaj, 36, of Kestrel Crescent, Blackbird Leys; Rickson Gill, 26, of Garsington Road, Cowley; Ervin Meta, 27, of Samphire Road, Blackbird Leys; Artan Lleshi, 34, of no fixed abode, and Uljan Nelku, 31, of Raglan Gardens, in Reading, were also cleared. None of the nine had any previous convictions.

After returning unanimous verdicts, the jury invited the men for a toast at The Head of The River pub.

Three other men arrested in the March 2008 raids had already been dealt with on separate charges.

Albert Kovaki 35, of Enfield, was cleared of conspiracy to supply cocaine on July 8.

Stephen Munro, 32, of Valley Road, Banbury, was given a 39 week suspended sentence for possession with intent to supply in January, and Klodian Kono, 39, from Farnborough, was sentenced to two years in jail in January for possession of class a drugs.

THAMES Valley Police and the Crown Prosecution Service would last night not answer any questions about the cost of the investigation and case.

A statement issued by Det Supt David Poole, head of specialist operations, said a decision to prosecute was made after careful consideration, but added the force accepts the jury’s verdict.

The statement said: “Both the Force and Crown Prosecution Service considered there was a criminal case to answer and brought the matter to trial.

“As part of the same operation, a further nine people were convicted of conspiracy to supply cannabis and sentenced to a total of 25 years imprisonment.”

A written statement by Baljit Ubhey, Chief Crown Prosecutor for the CPS Thames Valley, said a decision to prosecute was taken in the public interest.

It added: “The evidence in this case was lengthy and complex... we believe we were right to bring this prosecution.”