SIX men involved in the “professional and highly organised” trafficking of cocaine and the laundering of almost one million euros have been jailed.

Officers from the serious organised crime agency arrested Barry Green, 43, Jon Watson, 41, Mark Day, 52, and Deryk White, 32, on May 29 last year, and found 25kg of cocaine hidden in a blue Transit van and Green carrying £962,000 euros.

Less than two weeks earlier, officers found a carrier bag containing almost 2kg of cocaine when they stopped their co-defendants Brent Dwyer, 27, and Paul Austin, 31, in Tilbury.

Just hours before their arrest, Watson had passed the drugs to Dwyer and Austin after collecting them from Green’s home, in Cockman-nings Road, Orpington, Kent.

At Basildon Crown Court yesterday, Judge Alice Robinson told the defendants: “Your offences involve some of the most serious crimes which ever come before the courts .

“Cocaine is a highly addictive drug, dealt with at street level in small, easily handled parcels and which even small quantities are very valuable.

“It can thus be easily traded and massive profits made."

Operation Nebula, which took place between January and May last year, saw undercover officers monitoring the movements of the four men as they travelled between Essex and Kent to pick up cocaine and cash.

On one occasion they watched Watson, of Lower Park Road, Wickford, and White, of Chadwick Road, Westcliff, meet a lorry driver in a lay-by near Dover, before handing over drugs money so it could be taken to Holland to buy more cocaine.

Judge Robinson described Green, who stored the drugs and cash, as being at the “centre of the spider’s web” and Watson, who was in regular contact with an English cocaine supplier in Holland, as the “ringleaders” of the criminal enterprise.

She said Green and Watson had deliberately armed themselves and installed CCTV cameras because of their illegal trade.

Day, of Wydeville, Manor Road, London, and White, of Chadwick Road, Westcliff, were Watson and Green's “trusted right-hand men” according to Judge Robinson.

Dwyer, of Wickford Avenue, Basildon, and Austin of Caister Drive, Pitsea, were not involved in the conspiracy, but were caught out when they bought cocaine from their co-defendants to sell on.

Judge Robinson said there was evidence of a “degree of planning” in the case of Dwyer.

But she accepted Austin’s involvement amounted to an “act of stupidity” which came about because he needed money and his friend Dwyer had offered him £500.

Judge Robinson said she had also taken into account in sentencing Austin, the charity work he had carried out in the past and the fact he had saved a boy from drowning on a Shoebury beach in 2005.

2 ‘ringleaders’ get toughest sentences

BARRY Green, who was at the centre of the criminal enterprise, was jailed for 23 years after he was found guilty of conspiracy to supply cocaine and conspiracy to commit offences under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.

He admitted two counts of acquiring or having possession of criminal property and two counts of acquisition or possession of a prohibited weapon.

Jon Watson, who together with Green was described as a ringleader, was jailed for 15 years. He admitted two counts of acquiring or possession of a prohibited weapon and one count of conspiracy to supply cocaine, but was convicted of conspiracy to commit offences under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.

Deryk White, who was sent to prison for 11-and-a-half years, admitted conspiracy to supply cocaine and was found guilty of a second conspiracy charge.

His co-defendant Mark Day, jailed for 17 years, was convicted of the two conspiracy charges, but pleaded guilty to acquisition of a prohibited weapon.

Judge Alice Robinson imposed a serious crime prevention order on Green, Watson, Day and White, banning them from having more than £1,000 in their possession without notice. They will only be allowed to own one mobile phone and must give notice of any mortgage they take out.

A travel restriction was also imposed on Watson, which prevents him from leaving the UK for five years after he is released from prison.

Paul Austin was jailed for six-and-a-half-years and Brent Dwyer received nine years after they both pleaded guilty to possessing cocaine with intent. Dwyer also admitted supplying cocaine to another.

The defendants face a further hearing in December when the court will decide whether any of the assets seized are to be confiscated as proceeds of crime.