SINCE December last year, the Gazette has been following the news of how Hampshire Constabulary has seen 11 members of a county lines drugs gang be convicted.

The group, known as the Drive Marlow Crew, had been operating from London and running the WEZ drugs network in Basingstoke and Tadley.

During a period of March 2017 to July 2018 the gang had ‘cuckooed’ properties in the borough selling thousands and pounds worth of drugs.

In Winchester Crown Court, it was heard that Ahmet Karagozlu, of Stow Crescent, Walthamstow had a leading roll in the conspiracy.

With the last conviction taking place on Monday the total amount of years the gang is set to spend in jail stands at nearly 64 years.

Chief inspector Stuart Ratcliffe from Hampshire Constabulary said: “This is a clear sign of the partnership and complex work we are doing.

“To convict a drugs network of that size shows we are taking action towards these issues in Basingstoke.”

He added: “The WEZ network is a prime example of a piece of information coming from the public leading to an investigation.”