A £7 million cocaine smuggling operation that used a helicopter to fly drugs over the English Channel was busted after one of the key figures was caught in Bromley.

Belgian national Federic Fangnoul used his helicopter to transport approximately 50kg of cocaine per flight from Calais to various small airports in Kent.

From there the cocaine would be handed over to drug dealers who would transport the drugs into the capital.

The first part of the operation started to unravel when officers spotted Lewisham drug dealer Dean Francis meeting with the Belgian in a Kent hotel and collecting drugs on September 5 last year.

Although police didn’t act right then, the first arrest was made the next day in Bromley when officers found one of their drug runners.

John Bolter, from Effort Street in Tooting, was driving his Nissan Qashqai in Bromley on September 6 last year when he was stopped by police.

Officers uncovered a hidden compartment in the boot of the car where 20kg of cocaine was hidden.

Six days later, police seized the helicopter used in the drug runs after they saw Fangoul removed a number of bags and carry them into a hotel room.

Fangoul was using the cover story that he was night fishing but officers found a sophisticated hiding spot under the seats which was being used to hold the cocaine.

Finally police tracked down 37-year-old Francis, of Knighton Park Road, on October 4 and arrested him.

Francis pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class A drugs and will be sentenced on April 26.

Bolter, 36, pleaded guilty to the same offence and was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison.

Fangoul, 50, of Fennieres in Belgium, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to import and supply class A drugs and was sentenced to 17 and a half years in prison.

Detective Chief Superintendent Mick Gallagher, head of the Met’s Organised Crime Command, said: "This was an outstanding investigation by the Organised Crime Command combating a drug-dealing network that spread from Europe to the UK.

"Detailed detective work identified the significant roles these defendants played in the supply of millions of pounds worth of cocaine into the UK. The Organised Crime Command will relentlessly pursue those involved in the supply of class A drugs."