TWO drug dealers at the head of a cocaine ring worth hundreds of thousands of pounds on the city's streets have been put behind bars.
A woman has also been convicted of money laundering following the operation by Gloucestershire police's serious and organised crime unit.
In October, detectives smashed open the Churchdown drugs racket after surveillance at a series of properties resulted in a raid on a garage used by the gang in Oakhurst Close.
There they discovered a full-scale drugs factory and cocaine with a street value of £228,000.
Heroin was also found with a value estimated up to £10,850.
At another address in nearby Clarkia Close, police seized £72,200 cash in drug money and £25,000 in counterfeit notes.
Stephen John Pearce, 38, of Innsworth Lane, Innsworth, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine, conspiracy to supply heroine and facilitating the use or control of criminal property.
He was sentenced to six years and eight months for the cocaine offence, the same tariff again for the heroin offence and 18 months for the charges connected with the cash, the sentences to run concurrently.
Philip Sullivan, 34, of Marlstone Drive in Churchdown, was charged with conspiracy to supply cocaine, conspiracy to supply heroin and facilitating the use or control of criminal property. He entered a guilty plea at court and was sentenced to eight years imprisonment for the cocaine offence, eight years for the heroin offence and 18 months for the charges connected with the cash, also to run concurrently.
Karen Lesley Keser, 50, of Clarkia Close, Churchdown, also pleaded guilty to money laundering and possession of counterfeit currency.
She was sentenced to 15 months for the money laundering offence and six months for possession of counterfeit currently, suspended for two years.
Police said Sullivan was the head of the operation, with Pearce taking on the distribution arm.
Detective Inspector Neil Carpenter said: "When we first arrested Sullivan, he thought he could talk his way out of it by distancing himself from the garage. The amounts of cash seized are big – indicating profits involved.
"We will confiscate that and look at Proceeds of Crime Act hearings to confiscate any further assets."
