A PAIR of drug dealers who ran a heroin and cocaine racket known as the 'Rico' line have been jailed.

Jordan Hall, 25, and Sanchez Wright, 27, both of no fixed abode, were snared after an undercover sting operation carried out by Thames Valley Police.

That operation uncovered illicit drug deals being carried out by the duo at various locations across Banbury.

Both Hall and Wright are already serving separate jail terms for separate offences.

They appeared via videolink at Oxford Crown Court today to be sentenced for their role in the Oxfordshire drugs ring.

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Outlining the case prosecutor Matthew Walsh said the drugs plot - known as the 'Rico line' - was exposed following an undercover police operation.

He said the conspiracy was a 'county lines' case involving the supply of drugs from West Midlands to the Banbury area taking place in early 2018.

The court heard the operation was known for its 'very good quality' drugs.

Two undercover officers - known as 'Albert' and 'Fiona' completed eight drug deals involving both Hall and Wright between January and February that year.

Prosecutors said the men worked 'in tandem' during each deal and that Hall acted as the driver while Wright supplied the drugs to customers.

On a number of occasions during the sting operation they sold heroin and cocaine to clients, who were really police officers.

They sold drugs at various locations across Banbury including at People's Park, The Fairway, and Caernarvon Way.

On arrest neither men answered questions to the police but later admitted the offences.

The court also heard that Wright has a number of previous convictions, made up of 35 previous crimes.

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In mitigation Kemi Fapohunda said that her client, Wright, wanted to put the past behind him and take courses while a serving prisoner.

Lawrence Selby said that his client, Hall, had also spent his time in prison 'productively' and described the offending as 'three months of madness.'

Sentencing, Judge Ian Pringle QC said Oxfordshire had been 'plagued by a lot of county lines' cases.

He described the drugs operation as a 'very active county line' involving drugs with a purity of some 80 per cent.

Both men were handed jail terms for each of the two counts of conspiring to supply a controlled drug of class A - heroin and cocaine - that were ordered to run consecutive to their existing jail terms.

Wright was jailed for 20 months, which will run consecutive to his previous jail term of 54 months.

Hall was jailed for 12 months, which will run consecutive to his previous jail term of 45 months.

They must both also pay a statutory victim surcharge.