TWO men are facing lengthy prison sentences after admitting conspiracy to supply a huge quantity of cocaine.

Pasqulino Mazzuca, aged 52, of Holden Avenue, Ramsbottom, and Alexander Hepworth, aged 30, of Alden Road, Helmshore were on trial at Minshull Street Crown Court earlier this week accused of a series of offences including conspiracy to supply heroin and conspiracy to transfer firearms and ammunition.

The case was based upon messages between the pair which police recovered from Mazzuca's phone.

It was found in a raid on his Ramsbottom home in October 2019 and examined by officers.

When Hepworth's house was raided in February 2020 two encrypted chat phones were also discovered.

Prior to the trial, the pair had already admitted conspiracy to supply a small amount of cocaine, but the prosecution claim they were trafficking 30kg of the drug.

After the defendants agreed to be sentenced for trafficking the larger quantity of class A drugs, an offence which carries a very lengthy prison term, the trial was halted and the jury discharged.

Mazzuca and Hepworth, who was said to be the more senior of the two in the conspiracy, will be sentenced at Minshull Street Crown Court on June 8.