A trio of drug dealers who were making up to £3,000 a day in supplying illegal substances across the county have been sentenced.

Glen O’Brien, Barry Gilbody, both 48, and Robert White, 32, were part of a dealing line known as “Omar” selling Class A drugs including crack cocaine.

The men sold Class A illegal substances across parts of Epping Forest district including Debden, Loughton, Buckhurst Hill, Limes Farm, Chigwell and Hainault.

Acting on community information, Essex Police launched a six-month investigation in May 2018 targeting so-called ‘county line’ drug dealing gangs in the district including “Omar”.

Following the sentencing, Det Sgt James Paget of the West Operation Raptor team, said: “Every day Operation Raptor are out on the streets of Essex hunting down those people intent on dealing drugs on our streets.

“Whether it takes us days or months to gather the evidence needed to put these people behind bars, then that is what we will do.

“We will relentlessly pursue those ruthless criminals as they are not welcome in our county.”

O’Brien from The Plain, Epping and Gilbody, from Paley Gardens, Loughton admitted a charge of supplying a Class A drug were both given a two-year jail term suspended for two years at Chelmsford Crown Court.

White from New North Road, Ilford also admitted to the same charge and will serve a two-year sentence.

Epping Forest District Council provided £5,000 towards the cost of the policing operation allowing Essex Police to conduct the investigation into key members. The probe culminated with the execution of 19 warrants and 24 arrests across the district in November 2018.

If you have information about drug or gang-related crime in your community, contact Essex Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.