A drug gang caught with more than £100,000 in cash and 32 kilograms of cocaine has been jailed after a member was arrested in Croydon.

Serxhio Omeri, 28, was detained by officers as he left a flat on Theresa's Walk, who found him in possession of a large quantity of cash and a fake ID on June 21 2018.

Upon searching his address, police seized eight kilograms of cocaine, more than £100,000 in cash alongside a cash-counting machine, fake ID cards, drug wrappings and multiple mobile phones.

Keys found inside the house allowed officers to open a garage underneath the property, where they found a VW Passat with a further 23 kilograms of cocaine hidden in a rucksack.

Omeri was charged with conspiracy to supply Class A drugs the following day.

Following further surveillance enquiries, officers intercepted a drug deal on June 2018, Hassan Mezini, 23, and Akanto Prapaj, 32, were seen making contact on a street in Maidstone.

A search of the car led to the discovery of £35,000 in cash and a kilogram of cocaine.

Both were charged with charged with conspiracy to supply Class A drugs on June 27 2018.

Mezini’s photograph was found on one of the fake ID documents found at the address on Theresa’s Walk.

Bestar Karanxha and Adriatic Karanxha – who were also identified during the investigation – fled the country and were traced to Antwerp.

Working alongside the Belgian authorities, officers were able to have them extradited to the UK following their arrest on April 4.

Karanxha, aka Joszef Fedak, 30, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs at Snaresbrook Crown Court and was sentenced on September 24 to 16 years’ imprisonment.

Adriatic Karanxha, aka Otto Kovacs, of no fixed address, was sentenced on the same day to nine years’ imprisonment having pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.

He was also jailed for 12 months for possession of a false ID and 12 months for possession of a fraudulently obtained ID. These will run concurrently.

Mezini and Omeri were both sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment for conspiracy to supply Class A drugs having pleaded guilty.

Prapaj, 32 was sentenced to three-and-a-half years’ imprisonment.

Detective Constable Dave Murphy said: “Drug dealing and its associated violence has a hugely negative impact on our communities.

“I hope this outcome highlights our commitment to bearing down on those who seek to peddle drugs, exploit young people and target the most vulnerable within our communities.

“Communities play a vital role in helping us tackle the problem of drug crime. We want to hear from anyone who may have information about this crime in their neighbourhood.”