Men involved in a plot to smuggle thousands of pounds worth of cannabis into the country have been jailed for a total of 70 years.

At a hearing at Luton Crown Court, six men from across North London were jailed and one given a suspended sentence for their roles in a plot to import and supply cannabis.

The conspiracy came to light when police stopped a van after it left Tilbury docks loaded with cannabis shipped from Amsterdam, also seizing £87,000.

At the hearing on Friday, July 31, Paul Jordan, 49, of Leeside, Barnet, was convicted by a jury of conspiracy to import cocaine and was jailed for 18 years.

Raffaele Contato, 34, of Prayle Grove, Brent Cross, was convicted by a jury of conspiracy to import cocaine and was jailed for 16 years.

Colin McNamara, 50, of Hillfield Avenue, Hornsey, was convicted by a jury of conspiracy to import cocaine and pleaded guilty to the cannabis plot and was jailed for 12 years.

Luigi Salvone, 66, of Uplands Road, Hornsey, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cannabis and was jailed for two and a half years.

Gavin Leon, 49, of Crestbrook Avenue, Enfield, and David Cumberbatch, 55, of Uplands Road, Hornsey, also both pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cannabis and were jailed for two years and two months.

Douglas Dinsmore, 51, of Beaconsfield Road, Enfield, was convicted by a jury of conspiracy to supply cannabis.

He was given a 12 month prison sentence suspended for two years with supervision and 150 hours unpaid work.

Jailing the North London men, Judge Philip Bartle QC said: "I am satisfied you were all involved solely for financial reward.

"Although the devastating effects of drugs are well known at no point in your conversations do any of you refer to - let alone show concern for - the harm caused by drugs."

He said as no cocaine was ever actually smuggled in he had to make a judgement of how much was likely to have been imported.

The prosecution were suggesting 100 kilos, while defence lawyers suggested the men should be sentenced on the basis of five kilos, and said talk of larger amounts was "just talk".

Judge Bartle said he was satisfied that at least 40 kilos of the Class A drug would have been involved costing 1,144,000 and worth a much higher value when sold on.

He said he was sentencing on the basis that 300 kilos of cannabis was brought in. He described it as a 'sophisticated and professional' operation.

The year-long police operation was run by the Eastern Region Special Operations Unit.

Hearings will be held later to consider confiscation of assets under Proceeds of Crime legislation.