Drug-dealing gangsters who brazenly sold crack and heroin have been jailed.

The 17-strong gang, including four males from Sutton, dealt drugs in a Merton estate but have now been jailed for a total of over 33 years after an 18 month police operation.

The dealers would make up to £1,000 per day selling crack cocaine and heroin around the Phipps Bridge Estate in Mitcham - including from a base in a children's play area.

Acting on intelligence from the community, police began their operation to bust the gang in February last year. They swooped on their suspects in a series of raids in May last year and recovered guns hidden in socks, drugs, cash which turned out to have been stolen in a robbery, a knife and ammunition.

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A gun recovered in the raids

Of those arrested, 16 men have now been jailed after a series of trials and court hearings and one man faces jail when he is sentenced later this month.

Among them are Daniel Nwaogwugwu, 23, of Sutton High Street, who was jailed for 42 months after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply class A drugs and Wesley Doh, 19, of Collingwood Road, who was jailed for 30 months in a young offenders' institute after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply class A drugs.

Both were sentenced at Kingston Crown Court on Thursday, June 6.

Two 17-year-olds, both from Sutton who cannot be named for legal reasons, who were given eight month referral orders for supplying class A drugs.

Detective Chief Inspector Lee Hill said: "This has been an intensive and protracted investigation and I would like to thank everyone involved, in particular Detective Constable Paul Allen, for his tenacity and diligence in bringing these offenders to justice.

"The sentences imposed by the court reflect the seriousness of the criminality involved and should act as deterrent to others.

"The London Crime Squad is committed to tackling crimes of this nature and improving the quality of life amongst our communities."