TWO more men men trafficking drugs on the streets of Thurrock have been jailed.

Earlier this week Thurrock Nub News reported on two men put behind bars after being caught with drugs in the borough - and now we can report on two more sentenced after investigative work by the Operation Raptor team of Essex Police, a group of specialist officers tackling drugs gangs in the region.

In the latest sentencing Olakunle Ekundayo and Sean Allen were jailed after Basildon Crown Court heard they had been working for the 'Mitch' drug line out of Hackney, co-ordinating 'drug runners' to sell crack cocaine and heroin in Thurrock.

They and their roles were identified after officers stopped a car in Grays in March 2018 in which they found drugs and seized a mobile phone from the driver, who was also arrested.

After studying the seized phone, the Operation Raptor teamwere able to identify Ekundayo and Allen and establish their involvement in the county lines gang.

Allen, 28, was arrested when officers executed a warrant at his address in Amhurst Road, London E8 on 21 May 2018 and a large amount of mobile phones, sim cards, and documents were found.

At the same time officers carried out a warrant Ekundayo's home in Sandringham Road, London E8. The 28 year-old was arrested and cocaine, crack cocaine, and heroin were found.

Examinations of mobile phone devices taken from both addresses further established both men were involved in the sale of drugs.

Allen was later charged with two counts of being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine, one count of being concerned in the supply of heroin, and one count of possession of cannabis.

Ekundayo was later charged with being concerned in the supply of heroin, being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine, and possession with intent to supply heroin.

Initially they denied the charges but later changed their pleas to guilty.

This week Ekundayo was jailed for four years and Allen was sentenced to three years in prison.

Detective Inspector Scott Fitzmaurice, from the Op Raptor South team, said: "Drug dealing is a blight on our society. Wherever it takes place, violence goes alongside it and more often than not it is the most vulnerable people in our communities who are preyed upon.

"Ekundayo and Allen ran a network of drug runners from their base in Hackney, putting the poison of crack cocaine and heroin onto Thurrock's streets.

"Our work has ensured they can no longer do that and we will continue to work to identify other drug dealers, disrupt their activities."