Three drug dealers who peddled heroin and crack cocaine have been jailed for almost eight years.

East London Advertiser: Police storm address in Fairclough Street, Whitechapel, as part of the dawn raids carried out during June and July this year. Picture: Kois MiahPolice storm address in Fairclough Street, Whitechapel, as part of the dawn raids carried out during June and July this year. Picture: Kois Miah (Image: Kois Miah)

Taukir Ahmed, 21, of Ernest Street, Stepney, Muhammed Ali Hasan, 25, of Maroon Street, Stepney, and Salikul Islam, 22, of Singlewell Road, Gravesend, pleaded guilty to supplying class A drugs. They were sentenced at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Friday.

Tower Hamlets mayor John Biggs said: “This is another good result from our partnership work to make the borough safer.

“We are committed to using our joint resources to take action against those who peddle drugs and engage in criminal activity.”

Det Ch Insp Mike Hamer – following the sentencing of 16 of their fellow drug dealing gang members in August – said: “Removing these men from our streets is an incredible result for the community.

“They were all linked to the supply of crack cocaine and heroin and putting them in jail will severely disrupt the supply of drugs.”

Judge Nigel Peters QC heard in last month’s hearings how the gang operated five phone lines with addicts using BT phone boxes which don’t charge for the first few minutes of calls to arrange deals.

The trio were jailed following raids by 300 police officers on 50 addresses in a joint operation between the council, Met and housing associations targeting gang members in June and July.

Officers seized £60,000 cash, four stun guns and more than half a kilo of Class A drugs in the raids which have led to 27 men being sentenced so far with combined prison terms totalling 73 years.

In total 33 men and four male youths have pleaded guilty to more than 70 drug offences linked to the investigation over the past two months.

Cllr Asma Begum, the council’s community safety chief, said: “It is a priority to disrupt the drug markets in the borough.”

Ahmed and Hasan were jailed for two years and eight months each while Islam was sentenced to two years and four months.

Ten men who pleaded not guilty are due for trial later this year.