Two Erith men have been jailed, for more than 40 years between them, over their part in a massive drug smuggling operation.

Peter Robinson, 61, of Bexley Road and Terry Pooley, 71, of Avenue Road took part in an operation which saw hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of class a drugs imported into the UK.

Police witnessed Marcia Quinalha, 45, from north London - who was driving a black Mercedes - meet with a convicted drug trafficker outside Bickley railway station before taking a package from him in September 2012.

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Terry Pooley

She then drove to an address in Eltham, where a bag was placed inside the car.

Quinalha was later stopped by police in East Finchley and the car seized as she was driving without valid insurance.

Hidden within a purpose-built hiding place was £311,000 in cash.

Quinalha was arrested in November 2012 - she denied all knowledge of the money, stating it was her employer's car.

She was bailed whilst officers pursued further enquiries.

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Peter Robinson

Two months later, Gareth Roberts, 42, from Swindon, drove his lorry to 'Steven Pooley Transport' before travelling on to Holland where he collected a package which he delivered to a shipping company in Germany - using false details.

The package, which is believed to have been drugs, was shipped to the UK and Roberts drove the crates to St Helens with a known drug trafficker.

The trafficker was stopped by police and found to be in possession of 133kgs of amphetamine and 53kgs of cannabis.

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Amphetamine found in one of the crates

In January 2013, Roberts again travelled to Europe and followed the same routine.

Officers found a second haul in Thurrock, containing 17kgs of cocaine, 18kgs of heroin, 170kgs of amphetamine and 80kgs of cannabis.

Roberts' fingerprints were found on the attached delivery sheet.

He was arrested and later charged on Wednesday, February 11 this year.

Pooley and his son, Steven Pooley, 44, from Maidstone were arrested in connection with the importation of drugs. They were charged on Wednesday, February 11 this year.

Quinalha was charged on Friday, March 6 this year.

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The contents of some of the crates

As part of the investigation, detectives seized a total of 470kg of drugs and £311,000 in cash.

The drugs included: 17kgs of cocaine, 18kgs of heroin, 302kgs of amphetamine and 133kgs of herbal cannabis.

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Robinson was sentenced to 17 years imprisonment for importing class a drugs, and eight years for importing class b drugs. Both sentences are to run concurrently.

Pooley Snr, was sentenced to 16 years imprisonment for importing class a drugs, and seven years for importing class b drugs. Both sentences are to run concurrently.

Both men were sentenced on Friday, November 20.