A man who conspired to supply cannabis resin to the north east of England has been jailed for nine years today (December 7).

Jamie Acourt, 42, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class B drugs, namely cannabis resin, between January 2014 and May 2015.

The investigation, which was launched in 2014, resulted in six men being convicted for their roles in the conspiracy.

Officers were able to provide evidence of a highly-organised network of criminals transporting cannabis by road and supplying to dealers from their stronghold in Eltham.

However, despite the secretive nature of the network, detectives were able to trace their movements and build a detailed picture of the gang's activities.

In February 2016, detectives from the Met's Special Projects Team executed simultaneous search and arrest warrants at a number of addresses in Northumbria and south-east London.

Officers also seized 100 kilos of cannabis and £40,000 in cash.

Detectives had established that Jamie Acourt was central to the conspiracy, but he fled before the arrests took place.

He was subsequently traced to Barcelona, where he was arrested by Spanish police in May 2018, on a European Arrest Warrant (EAW) on behalf of the Metropolitan Police Service.

Acourt subsequently pleaded guilty to the charge midway through his trial, on December 6.

Detective Chief Inspector Mark Bedford of the Met’s Organised Crime Command, said: "Today’s conviction is the culmination of several years’ of complex investigation by Met detectives. Diligent policing work has enabled the team to build a case which has disbanded a drugs network valued around £4 million.

"Their tenacity has ensured that six members of the drugs network have now faced justice."