TEN people from Ely, Soham and Littleport have been jailed after a high-profile clampdown on East Cambridgeshire s drug dealers. The operation, codenamed Orchid, saw police carry out a series of early morning raids across the county in an effort to crack

TEN people from Ely, Soham and Littleport have been jailed after a high-profile clampdown on East Cambridgeshire's drug dealers.

The operation, codenamed Orchid, saw police carry out a series of early morning raids across the county in an effort to crack down on the sale of class A drugs.

Detective chief inspector Gary Ridgway, who led the operation, said: "This is a despicable trade which not only wrecks the lives of those who are addicted to drugs, but is also a scourge on wider society," he said.

"One particular address that had caused a lot of problems for the community in Ely has been shut down and the operation as a whole has been a joint effort between the police, neighbourhood policing teams and drug action teams in the area."

Ten of the 13 convicted from the district were given jail sentences, totalling more than 33 years, with another defendant, Tracey Hall, awaiting sentencing.

Amongst the convicted were six people from Ely, five from Littleport and two from Soham.

Some of the more severe punishments were handed down to drug dealers from Ely. Clifford Harris, of New Barns Avenue, was given a four-and-a-half year sentence for supplying class A drugs.

Nicholas Rowley, 42, and Chandra Earwaker, 33, who are also from Ely, were both given four years each.

Two people from Littleport were given jail sentences accumulating eight-and-a-half years. Martin Quince, 26, and Simon Gregory, 40, were both convicted of supplying class A drugs.

The court also heard that Gregory had sold drugs on the grounds of Ely Cathedral.

DCI Ridgway said: "We are doing everything we can to reduce the availability of drugs in the area and we value any information members of the public can offer to help."

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