TWENTY nine men have been jailed for a total of more than 89 years in two of the biggest drugs operations ever staged in Ealing.

Operations Bugsy and Alberti were launched by Ealing police in a bid to rid the borough of drug dealing.

A total of 29 men were arrested and charged with a number of drugs offences including possession and supply of Class A drugs.

During the operation £19,000 in cash and £5,000 worth of heroin was seized along with rounds of ammunition.

All of the men were arrested between November and December last year and all pleaded guilty to various drugs charges at Isleworth Crown Court. They received prison sentences ranging from six years to six months.

The convictions come just weeks after two of Southall's biggest drug dealers were sentenced to more than 20 years in prison after their cousin turned supergrass.

Ealing police chiefs were delighted with the success of the operations across the borough which directly targeted pushers and dealers.

Chief Supt Martin Bridger, Ealing's Borough commander, said: "This operation is a superb example of pro-active policing whereby the problem of drug dealing was identified and quickly dealt with.

"The hard work of those officers involved has led to a large number of people receiving long custodial sentences.

"This will send out a strong message that drug dealing will not be tolerated in the borough of Ealing and we will continue to mount operations such as these to combat the problem.

"The targets in operation Alberti were involved in an organised drug dealing operation, using mobile phones and working in shifts to supply drugs.

"They were blatantly dealing outside places of worship, primary schools and in parks. We have successfully removed these individuals from the community."