TWO men behind an international drug smuggling ring have been jailed for a total of 18 years and four months after police found cocaine worth millions of pounds in the boot of a car.

Martin Lonsdale, 50, of Chapel Close, Clifton, near Deddington, and Matthew King, 42, from Laverstoke Lane, in Whitchurch, Hampshire, had admitted charges of conspiracy to import cocaine at a court hearing earlier this year.

Harry Lenton, 24, of Midlane Close, Basingstoke, was found guilty by a jury at Oxford Crown Court on Friday after a five-day trial.

Judge Anthony King sentenced King to nine years and four months in jail and Lenton to nine years.

Lonsdale was remanded in custody and will be sentenced at Oxford Crown Court on December 18.

Det Sgt Andy Atherden, of Thames Valley Police's serious and organised crime unit, said the arrests followed a long investigation.

Lonsdale was arrested on April 12 this year in Bunkers Hill, Kidlington, when 6.5 kilograms of cocaine, with a street value of about £3m, was found in his car.

Later the same day King was arrested in the centre of Abingdon. Lenton was arrested at his home on April 28.