An organised crime network supplying heroin and cocaine using a single mobile phone and text messages touting for trade has been busted and its gang leaders jailed.

Police investigations back to 2021 uncovered the gang advertising their drugs by handing out business cards.

The homes of five gang members were raided on the Isle of Dogs, in Wapping, Barking and Oxfordshire where drugs and large quantities of cash were found.

Police compared the case to an American TV detective series.

“Their drug running and spending could have been an episode of The Wire,” Det Sgt Lee Warrington said.

“Putting these criminals behind bars removes this harmful illegal activity from the streets. Selling illegal drugs in our communities reaps misery and harm on the lives of the most vulnerable people in society.”

Five drug lines were linked to the gang from undercover operations and surveillance by the City of London drugs squad.

 “We worked to build a concrete case against those involved in these drug lines, from the top down,” Det Sgt Warrington added.

Masoom Ali, Ismail Mirza and Mohammed Omor Tariq were identified as the ring-leaders who were charged with drugs and money laundering offences.

Ali, a 24-year-old whose home in Prusom Street, Wapping was raided, pleaded guilty straight away at Inner London Crown Court, while Mirza and Tariq changed their plea to guilty during the trial.

Ali was jailed for six years and nine months.

Mirza, a 21-year-old from Westferry Road in Millwall, received a three-year jail term.

Tariq, also 21, from of Banbury in Oxfordshire, was sentenced to three years and seven months.

Two more gang members were tracked down who were identified as ‘runners’.

Salaman Miah, a 26-year-old from Boundary Road in Barking, changed his plea to guilty of one count of conspiring to supply Class B drugs during the trial and was jailed for 14 months.

Shakil Miah, 21, from Hale Street on the Isle of Dogs, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and was bailed to be sentenced at a later date.

The gang used a mobile phone as a single point of contact where “marketing messages” were sent to users advertising what was for sale and the price, the court heard.

Users would text or phone back with their orders and arrange a meeting.

The phone was a single point of contact, the same number used by different gang members.