A MULTIMILLION pound drugs operation has been smashed by police — and two men connected to it have been jailed.

Anthony Langstreth, aged 29, from Radcliffe, was jailed for 11 years for his part in the plot today, while Ian Barrick, aged 39, was jailed for five years and eight months.

The two men were involved in a conspiracy to import drugs with a street value of up to £15 million, Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court heard.

The conspiracy was busted when police seized 213kg of cannabis with a street value of £292,000 from a unit at Stansted airport.

The court heard that the drugs were due to be sent to a business address in Bolton which were rented by Langstreth using a false company name, Redmark UK Ltd.

It was later discovered that 89 consignments of drugs had been sent from Stansted to Bolton, and Langstreth signed for 78 of them.

One shipment was usually 12 boxes weighing a total of 84kg, so the total value of the drugs is calculated as between £10.8 and £15.1 million.

Cannabis was also seized from an address in Salford in July 2008, and cocaine and cannabis from Barrick’s garage in November 2008.

Langstreth, of Britannia Close, Radcliffe, pleaded guilty to importing cannabis, possession with intent to supply cocaine and possession with intent to supply cannabis.

Barrick, of Grove Street, Kearsley, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cannabis, possession with intent to supply cocaine and possession with intent to supply cannabis.

Barrick denied importing cannabis and the charge was dismissed after the CPS offered no evidence.

The investigation was handled by the Crown Prosecution Service’s complex casework unit.

Ben Southam, from the CCU, said: “This was a lengthy investigation by the police and this successful prosecution has put an end to a lucrative and illegal drug trade.”