Sahil Patel jailed for 16 years. Image: Met Police

Drug dealers who delivered crack cocaine and heroin to homes around east London have been jailed for a total of 33 years.

Gang leader Sahil Patel from Vernon Rd, Ilford, advertised a telephone number that people could call to order drugs.

The number was receiving an average of 700 calls and almost 90 texts a day.

Patel was found guilty of possession of a firearm and ammunition with intent to endanger life, and conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.

He has been sentenced to 16 years in prison.

Snaresbrook Crown Court heard that his gang was responsible for distributing class ‘A’ drugs such as  crack cocaine and heroin across the boroughs of Ilford, Barking, Dagenham, Redbridge and Newham.

Five other gang members, who were responsible for delivering the drugs, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and were also given prison sentences.

A sixth member will be sentenced in April.

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Officers from the Metropolitan Police’s Trident Area Gang Command seized hundreds of grammes of crack cocaine and heroin as part of their investigation, with a street value of over £60,000.

Detective Inspector Steve Meechan said

The harm caused across east London by these criminals cannot be underestimated and I’m pleased that they now face prison for a significant length of crime.