A TOTAL of 59 drug dealers have been jailed for a combined length of 150 years as part of a major police operation.

For the past two years, Bury police have been running Operation Marine aimed at blitzing drug networks across the borough.

The final defendant, Ben McAuley, aged 21, of Manchester Road, Bury, was jailed for two years on Friday.

The operation was launched in April, 2012, after police received reports of drug dealing in and around Manchester Road Park.

Police sent officers undercover and went to court to get search warrants before raiding more than 50 addresses in June and October, 2012, and in February this year.

They arrested 61 people and 59 were charged and jailed.

After Friday’s hearing, Det Chief Insp Sara Wallwork, of Bury police, said: “Drugs can have a huge effect on the community, whether that’s through burglary, robbery or vehicle crime, so cracking down on them is a priority.

"Since 2011, we have worked hard to take drug dealers off the streets to disrupt the sale of illegal drugs and make our communities safer — but we will not stop there.

“We are committed to fighting organised crime in the community and we will continue to target those concerned in the sale and supply of drugs across Bury.

"We would urge anyone with concerns or informatio0n about drug dealing in Bury to contact police.”