Two criminals based in London masterminded a network of drug runners to sell heroin and cocaine across Loughborough.

Jordan Murray and Devaughn Wiillams controlled at least 10 people to cash in on the sale of the class A drugs in the town, Leicestershire Police said.

Customers contacted the pair through two widely circulated telephone numbers and they would then instruct their Loughborough runners to complete the transactions.

The pair were arrested by Leicestershire officers as part of an operation to tackle so-called 'county lines' drug dealing.

Murray of Flamborough Road, Ruislip, London, appeared at Leicester Crown Court on Tuesday this week to plead guilty to conspiracy to supply class A drugs.

the 23-year-old was jailed for three years.

Jordan Murray, (top), and Devaughn Williams oversaw the sale of class A drugs in Loughborough from their bases in London
Jordan Murray, (top), and Devaughn Williams oversaw the sale of class A drugs in Loughborough from their bases in London

Like Murray, Williams, also 23, was arrested in London by Leicestershire officers earlier this year in connection with the Loughborough network.

Williams, of no fixed address, appeared at Leicester Crown Court last month and admitted two counts of possession with intent to supply class A drugs and two counts of being concerned in the supply of class A drugs.

He too was locked up for three years.

The force has now released details of the case. It said that between September 2018 and January this year, at least 10 dealers supplied drugs on the men's behalf on 16 occasions.

Grant Griffiths, of Wolverhampton, was jailed for drug dealing in Leicestershire
Grant Griffiths, of Wolverhampton, was jailed for drug dealing in Leicestershire

In a separate case heard also heard on Tuesday, 24-year-old West Midlands man Grant Griffiths was jailed for two years and three months after he pleaded guilty to three counts of supplying class A drugs.

Leicestershire Police said that on three dates in September and October 2018, Griffiths, of Bay Avenue, Wolverhampton, sold heroin and cocaine, in Loughborough.

How to deal with the law-breakers

The force launched Operation Lionheart earlier this year.

So far under, its officers have arrested at least 112 people, 99 of whom have been charged with criminal offences, most of them related to drugs supply.

A number of cases have already passed through the crown court while others are due to be heard in the near future.