A Chigwell man has been jailed for 10 years for his part in a gang that planned to distribute £2million of cocaine across England.

Ilford Recorder: More than £375,000 in cash was seized by officers from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate.More than £375,000 in cash was seized by officers from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate. (Image: Archant)

Michael Enever, of Brook Parade, was sentenced at Chelmsford Crown Court on Thursday after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply a class A drug.

The court heard that with three other men, 44-year-old Enever had planned to distribute 25kg of cocaine, valued at £2m, across Essex, Kent and Merseyside concealed inside commercial vehicles.

But the drugs were seized along with more than £375,000 in cash in a raid by the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate.

It was the biggest cocaine haul by Essex police to date.

Ringleader Luke Shubert, 31, of Bowers Gifford, was jailed for 15 years, Toby Jones, 29, of Brook End, Epping, for 11 and Richard Gamon, 30, of Link Road, Canvey for 11.

Senior investigating officer Det Ch Insp Stuart Smith said: “A six-month long investigation led to the four men being arrested and overwhelming evidence meant their only choice was to plead guilty in court.”