A multi-million-pound UK-wide cocaine conspiracy has been brought down after 52kg of cocaine was found on two people in Newcastle-under-Lyme.

Seven men have now been jailed for more than 60 years combined.

It comes after officers from the Regional Organised Crime Unit (ROCU) stopped a vehicle and found 52-kilogrammes of cocaine on James Garlick, 30, and Shane Wintle, 32 - both of HMP Dovegate - in Newcastle-under-Lyme.

Staffordshire Police explained that the pair used a network of couriers to distribute cocaine throughout the UK, using encrypted communication apps on their phones to co-ordinate the supply of more than 350-kilogrammes of cocaine between 20 May and 19 June last year.

The 52-kilogramme seizure has a street value of between £6,246,240 and £7,807,800.

The duo's network of couriers were also caught. These were Andrew Rushton, 46, of Ashbourne, Derbyshire; Harry Upton, 30, of Buxton, Derbyshire; Sam Upton, 28, of Full Sutton, York; Julian Buggs, 57, of no fixed address; David Rowley, 60, of Church Lawton, Cheshire.

They were all arrested on 15 October last year, before charges were brought to them.

Superintendent Victoria Downing, of the Staffordshire Police major and organised crime unit, said: "This group worked together to operate a multi-million-pound crime business across the UK and have been rightfully brought to justice for their actions.

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"Serious and organised crime on this scale often involves the exploitation of vulnerable people, where career criminals prey on vulnerability and addiction to line their own pockets.

"I want to assure communities in Staffordshire that specialist officers are working night and day to take robust action against the organised crime groups operating locally."

Today (Monday 20 April), all seven conspirators have been jailed at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court collectively for more than 60 years. They all pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine.

Garlick and Wintle were jailed for nine-years-and-seven-months.

Buggs was jailed for nine-years-and-five months. Harry Upton was sentenced to nine years in prison, while Sam Upton was jailed for eight-years-and-two months.

Rowley was handed a sentence of eight-years-and-three-months, while Rushton was given seven-years-and-eight-months.