TWO drug dealers who were shipping up to £600,000 worth of cocaine around the country have been jailed for a collective 14 years.

Robert Smith, Adam Cowan and John Taylor were all caught inside a house in a small village preparing more than five kilograms of the class A drug.

The home, near Apton Hall Road, Canewdon, was raided by police on October 15 last year. The home belonged to Smith, 44,

Taylor, 53, of Kings Road, Basildon, had been spotted on two previous occasions going into the home by police.

On the second occasion on June 10, Taylor was stopped by police and arrested.

He was found to be in possession of 997 grams of cocaine with an 80 per cent purity.

Basildon Crown Court heard on Friday that Taylor said to police on his arrest: “You were not wearing uniforms, I thought I was getting attacked again.”

He was released but police continued to monitor the house, and he was spotted there again on October 15.

Police instigated a raid on the home and found all three men.

Smith and Taylor were found trying to flee. Cowan, 39, of Christchurch Road, Southend, was found inside the house.

In the kitchen area, blocks of cocaine was found on the table along with various items of drug paraphernalia and a delivery list.

When he was being arrested, Smith was found to have a phone wedged in his armpit which was a encrypted phone known to be used by drug dealers.

Smith and Taylor admitted possession with intent to supply cocaine and being concerned in the supply of cocaine. Cowan admitted possession of cannabis and possession of cocaine

Recorder Paul Keleher QC sentenced Smith to eight years prison, Taylor six years, plus a 12 month suspended sentence and 200 hours work for Cowan.