Three members of a gang who used modified cars to smuggle drugs have been jailed.

Flamur Gashi, 34, and Ervis Salaj, 29, both of The Fairway, in Southgate, along with Aldi Zeneli, 31, of Peterborough, were sentenced to a total of 24 years.

Zeneli was arrested in November 2013 after a kilo of cocaine was found in his possession. An Audi A6 and Mercedes ML were taken from the address and traced to Gashi.

There was a secret compartment in the fuel tank of the Mercedes and four kilos of cocaine with a street value of £800,000 were found in the Audi’s dashboard airbag.

Officers tracked Gashi and Salaj as they collected the cars and drove them to a location in Enfield.

They were arrested as they attempted to retrieve the cocaine from the Audi.

Gashi and Salaj both denied conspiring to supply cocaine but on September 26, they were found guilty at Blackfriars Crown Court.

Gashi was sentenced to 12 years and Salaj jailed for seven. Zeneli received five years at Peterborough Crown Court.

Steve Robinson, of the Middle Market Drugs Partnership, said:“This investigation uncovered an organised criminal network who used sophisticated means to smuggle harmful class A drugs into the UK and distribute them onto the streets.

“Thanks to the hard work of drugs partnership officers they are now behind bars and the sentences handed down reflect the severity of these offences.

“Both the NCA and Metropolitan Police will continue to tirelessly target crime groups who have such a devastating impact on communities.”