by Annette Wilson

Five men have been jailed for a total of 44 years for conspiring to smuggling cocaine worth almost £1.5million from France via a high-speed inflatable to Hythe beach.

The drugs were brought ashore in the early hours of September 13 and seized by waiting police who arrested two brothers and three other men nearby.

Glen Johnson, 32, and his brother Ronnie, 21, both from Hampshire, Kym Farid, 20, from Surrey and Harvon Davies, 24, from Croydon all admitted conspiracy to smuggle drugs. Josiah Johnson, 20, from Hampshire was convicted after a trial at Canterbury Crown Court.

Glen and Josiah Johnson, Davies and Farid were all jailed for nine years, while Ronnie Johnson was sentenced to eight years. Time served on remand will count towards their sentences.

Mr Recorder Peter Morgan, QC, told the conspirators they had played a part in a sophisticated conspiracy and had been caught red handed.

Police recovered packets containing just over 11kg of pure cocaine with a wholesale value of between £280,000 to £408,000. At street level it would have fetched between £973,000 and £1.45million, said prosecutor Rufus Stilgoe.

In August, there had been an aborted similar attempt when the brothers were rescued by a French vessel after being found adrift in the Channel and brought into Dover for questioning.

This triggered police suspicions and a surveillance operation started.

Det Insp Eddie Fox from the serious and organised crime unit east led the investigation.

Audio: Det Insp Eddie Fox, who led the investigation, talks to kmfm

After sentencing, he said: "The five men were part of a significant organised crime group that was probably one of the most prolific gangs involved in this type of criminality.

"In dismantling this group and bringing these men to justice, we have probably saved lives. Drug trafficking fuels all sorts of criminality and has a devastating effect on the lives of already vulnerable people."