A BASILDON man arrested by specialist officers as part of a targeted operation into the supply of Class A drugs has been jailed for eight years.

Luke Connor was arrested close to his home, in Riverside Place, Wickford, on 15 July last year.

During a search of his home, officers from Essex Police's serious and organised crime unit uncovered three 1kg bricks of cocaine, about 1kg of loose cocaine in a number of containers, a substantial amount of cannabis, about £140,000 in cash, a number of weapons and several mobile phones.

The seized cocaine had a street value of about £400,000.

During a further search of the 28-year-old's Audi vehicle, officers found a 'bag for life' containing about £80,000 in cash in the boot of the vehicle.

Connor was arrested on suspicion of a number of offences and subsequently charged with possession with intent to supply class A drugs, possession of criminal property, possession of a prohibited weapon and possession of cannabis.

He was also among the first in the UK to be charged with possession of a prohibited weapon in a private place.

The Offensive Weapons Act - which makes it an offence to have a weapon in a private place as well as a public place – came into law just 25 hours before officers secured permission for the charge.

Connor admitted all charges and was sentenced to a total of eight years at Basildon Crown Court today (Monday, 28 February).

All the drugs have been destroyed and a proceeds of crime hearing will be held in due course.

Detective Inspector Yoni Adler, of the serious and organised crime unit, said: "Given the amount of drugs and cash we seized in Connor's home, it's clear he was a significant player in organised criminality.

"The drugs which we seized were bound for the streets of Essex and, as a result of this operation, none of them will cause harm to our communities.

"We take an uncompromising approach to drug supply and organised crime in Essex. Connor must have thought he was above the law and he was oblivious to the case we were building against him until the afternoon of July 15 last year.

"As a result of that case building, he had no option but to admit the charges levelled against him.

"Thankfully, he will now have a considerable time in prison to ponder his actions."