Two drug suppliers have been locked up for a total of 15 years after cocaine with a street value of £16,500 was found in a Mercedes.

Thanet residents Tebin Kadir and Darren Duffy were arrested on June 14 2019 during an early-morning search.

Officers found quantities of the drug with a street value of up to £16,500 when they looked inside a Mercedes car belonging to Kadir at his home.

They also seized cash and steroids from inside the property.

He was deemed to have played a leading role in a criminal enterprise, regularly dealing in more than 1kg of the drug at a time.

The 44-year-old, of St Mildred’s Road, Margate, was jailed for 11 years after pleading guilty to multiple charges.

Some of the illegal substances seized had fingerprints which matched Duffy, who was already known to be working for Kadir.

When his fridge was searched, cocaine was found and text messages between the pair were also discovered.

The 40-year-old from Dumpton Park Drive pleaded guilty to charges relating to the supply of drugs and possession of criminal property.

After the sentencing, Detective Sergeant Jon Saxby said: “Criminals who supply class A drugs care little for the damage it causes to our society and the many lives torn apart.

“That is why we will forever target the likes of Tebin Kadir, Darren Duffy and others who seek to benefit from the misery of others.

“The lengthy prison sentences they have received indicate just how serious this type of offending is, and should send a very strong message to others who may feel they can break the law without consequence.”