A DRUG dealer who was involved in a plan to flood the streets with more than half a million pounds of cocaine has been jailed.

Mark Ward, aged 51, of Fairhurst Drive, Worsley was one of four men convicted at Minshull Street Crown Court and was jailed for four years.

His accomplices were Terence Harrison, aged 59, of Windy Arbour Road, Merseyside, Bernard Cleary, aged 44, of Norbury Grove, Swinton and Thomas Jeffrey, aged 29, of Bolton Road, Pendleton.

On Tuesday August 11, 2015 Thomas Kavanagh, aged 58, of Milner Street, Swinton — who was previously sentenced to four years and eight months in 2015, visited the home of Harrison carrying a rucksack.

Kavanagh, driven in an X-type Jaguar by Ward, emerged a short time later carrying the bag.

Half an hour later police officers saw the car pull on to a footpath in Chorley Road, Swinton. Kavanagh got out and was followed by police.

When he realised he was being followed he ran off, throwing the bag into dense undergrowth.

He was arrested for Conspiracy to Supply a Controlled Drug and the rucksack contained two kilos of cocaine with a combined street value of almost £560,000.

Ward was also arrested for being concerned in the supply of controlled drugs and found in possession of four mobile phones.

Analysis of the phones showed that while Cleary was in Tenerife on holiday with his family he made numerous calls to Jeffrey and following Kavanagh's arrest there was a flurry of calls between the pair.

Sergeant Ryan Grumbridge said: "We will relentlessly pursue and dismantle organised crime groups. These crime groups make vast amounts of money dealing Class A drugs and the knock-on effect causes misery in our communities.

"This is a fight that we cannot do alone and I would like to thank the public for their continued support of our on-going disruption work being done to help keep our communities safe.

"If you suspect someone is dealing drugs in your community I would urge you to contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111."