A PAIR of men who were involved in a "sophisticated" nationwide conspiracy supplying drugs across Hampshire including Winchester have been jailed.

Hermengildo Dange and Emmanuel Heathcote were part of a gang called the Manchester Boys, or Manx, and brought drugs down from the north to the south coast.

The pair, both from Manchester, pleaded guilty to two charges of conspiracy to supply cocaine, crack cocaine and heroin and money laundering.

Thirteen other people have so far been sentenced for this part Operation Buntline - Hampshire Constabulary's biggest drugs investigation carried out as part of a crackdown known as Operation Fortress.

So far the 15 people jailed have been sentenced to a cumulative total of 117 years in prison.

Dange and Heathcote, both 22, were sentenced to a combined total of 11 years for their part in the conspiracy.

Sentencing the pair at Southampton Crown Court Judge Peter Ralls said they were involved in a “large and sophisticated operation”.

“You were involved in the supply of cocaine and crack cocaine in the south of the country, Southampton, Winchester and Brighton.

“The pattern of conspiracy followed a fairly well understood route, a series of phone links were set up which became known by their users in their vicinity in order for the order for the drugs to be provided.”

Dange aged 22, from Shiregreen Avenue, Manchester who had only admitted his part in the role in the fourth week of a trial, was sentenced to six and a half years in prison.

Emmanuel Heathcote, aged 22, from Queens Road, Manchester was sentenced to four and a half years in prison at the same court.

Detective Inspector Mandy Horsburgh said: “These individuals chose to prey on the vulnerability of drug addiction and have exploited this for their own gains to fund cash rich lifestyles with little regard for the ripple effect of misery that drug misuse causes with individuals, families and communities.

“The work within Operation Fortress will continue to redress this imbalance of injustice and regardless of where these criminal groups reside we will identify them and bring them to justice and continue to reduce the harm they cause within our communities".

Several more people are due to be sentenced in early September.