Seven members of an organised crime group, all of whom come from the Bournemouth/Poole area have been jailed.

The gang dealt class A drugs on a commercial scale and obtained a potentially lethal firearm to enforce their operation.

Following a detailed operation by Dorset Police’s Serious Organised Crime Investigation Team (SOCIT), working with the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit (SWROCU), the group’s efforts to communicate through an encrypted messaging service were exposed and a large quantity of drugs were seized during a series of arrests, as well as the firearm they had obtained.

All seven defendants appeared at Bournemouth Crown Court to be sentenced, with the final hearing concluding on Friday 25 November.

Jake Stephen Bastable, 36, of St Anthony’s Road, Bournemouth, and Joe Tommy Bastable, 34, of Mitchell Road, Poole, were both sentenced to 17 years in prison for offences of conspiracy to supply class A drugs and purchasing a firearm without authority.

Gavin Lee Richard Newman, 44, of Ripon Road, Bournemouth, was sentenced to 12 years and four months in jail for offences of conspiracy to supply class A drugs, possessing a firearm without a certificate and possessing ammunition without a certificate.

Dennis Harry Hough, 35, of Beaufort Road, Bournemouth, was jailed for five years and ten months; Zacharia Kaissi-Kavanagh, 25, of Southbourne Overcliff Drive, Bournemouth, was sentenced to 10 years and six months in prison; and Aaron Shane Newman, 41, of Florence Road, Bournemouth, was jailed for four years and ten months, all for conspiracy to supply class A drugs.

Nicky Robert Charles Gent, 36, of Berrans Avenue, Bournemouth, was sentenced to eight years in prison for offences of being concerned in an arrangement which facilitates the acquisition, retention, use or control of criminal property by another and participation in the criminal activities of an organised crime group.

The investigation into the organised crime group (OCG) began in March 2020 and exposed how the gang used an encryption method called Encrochat to run their operation, which was directed by the brothers Joe and Jake Bastable and involved them organising the buying and selling of large amounts of cocaine.

Over the following weeks, members of the group exchanged a series of messages relating to the supply of drugs, as well as discussing the sourcing of a firearm after one of their drugs runners was robbed.

With the Bastable brothers directing the OCG, Gavin Newman was involved in organising drivers to collect and deliver the drugs and also collected the firearm on their behalf, before storing it at an address in Bournemouth.

He later instructed his brother Aaron Newman to collect drugs from the address and both Aaron Newman and Hough were involved in the transportation of cocaine in kilogram blocks, as well as the movement of money.

Gent was involved in the storing and counting of cash on behalf of the OCG while Kaissi-Kavanagh operated his own drug dealing line after buying in wholesale amounts from the Bastables.

Following a detailed investigation into this drug supply network, officers carried out a series of arrests and searches from 2 June 2020.

The drugs seized during the police operation had an estimated street value of around £800,000. However, expert analysis of the OCG’s communications indicated they were believed to be supplying nearly 900 kilograms of class A and class B drugs per year, with an estimated street value of around £49 million.

Detective Chief Inspector Jamie Halford, of Dorset Police, said: “This was an extensive operation to investigate and ultimately disrupt the activities of a gang dealing class A drugs on a commercial scale. These men also showed the dangerous levels they were prepared to go to in order to protect their enterprise by securing a potentially lethal firearm, which has now been taken off the streets.

“Key to our enquiries was working with our partners at the Regional Organised Crime Unit and the National Crime Agency to gain access to the encrypted messages that the group thought they were able to use to communicate without being detected.

“This case serves as a further reminder that we are determined to take proactive action to tackle the efforts of drugs gangs dealing in Dorset and make the county a hostile place for them to operate in.”

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Local Police Area (LPA) commander chief superintendent Mark Callaghan said: “We recognise the impact that the supply of class A drugs has on our communities, and we will take robust action that sends a message to those involved in serious criminality of this nature that it will not be tolerated in Dorset.

“Since this operation by the Serious Organised Crime Team, we have also launched Op Viper, which sees dedicated teams working with local officers and partner agencies to further strengthen our work to disrupt the activities of gangs attempting to supply drugs in our communities.

“We will continue to take a proactive approach to identify offenders, secure evidence and safeguard vulnerable people who may be exploited by these criminal organisations.”

Dorset police and crime commissioner, David Sidwick, said: “Firstly, I would like to thank everyone involved in bringing this case to court. The work of Dorset Police’s Serious Organised Crime Investigation Team and the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit, has ended a significant organised crime group operating in our county.

“This prime example of partnership working has resulted in offenders being caught and jailed, significant amounts of illegal drugs being seized, and a potentially lethal weapon used for the ‘enforcement’ taken off the streets.

“Being tough on drugs and violent crime is priority within my Police and Crime Plan and I am pleased to see such robust action taking place. The result of this case and the work of Operation Viper and Operation Scorpion is making a real difference on our streets. Today, seven more drug dealers are behind bars, and I hope that their sentence serves as a warning to other criminals who think they can ply their evil trade in our county – put simply – you will get caught and you will go to prison.”