SEVEN undercover female police officers posing as addicts have disrupted a gang dealing cocaine in and around St Albans city.

Five men were jailed for a total of 18 years five months after covert recording of drug deals by undercover officers.

The nine-month operation, dubbed operation "resold", saw the officers going by false names - including Jo, Abbie, Mel, Tina, Anna, Hannah and Janine - infiltrate the gang which were looking to recruit them.

They managed to discover the phone numbers of the drug dealers, gaining their trust with one dealer texting another that “she thinks you’re fit”.

In November last year police made arrests across the city at the men’s homes after collecting enough evidence that most pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class A drugs.

Andrea Scott Lynch, prosecuting at St Albans Crown Court yesterday, said several of the men were caught by “test purchase officers” dealing cocaine to them at various locations around the city.

She said: “The women would ring the line they had been given and meet the dealers.

“On one occasion a wrap of cocaine was sold to a test purchase officer for £40 outside St Albans Girls' School.

“Another time a deal was carried out next to this court building.”

The court heard that addict Moudod Hussain was recruited as an “organiser” by a drug dealer referred to as Kane.

In mitigation the court was told the 21-year-old restaurant worker of Haig Close, St Albans, became addicted to cocaine and agreed to help Kane with the “business” until he found someone else.

None of the five defendants had previous convictions and the court heard Hussain had done well to find work after leaving school with no qualifications.

Jo Sidhu, defending, said: “He has a poor level of education and was sent back to Bangladesh every now and then which disrupted his schooling.

“His family are horrified by the shame they feel he has brought upon them.

“They have a responsible position in the community and his father has gone back to Bangladesh as he cannot deal with these proceedings.”

Mr Sidhu added: “I have references from the Iman at St Albans Mosque who has confirmed he was a regular worshipper and helped them from time to time.

“He was a volunteer at the Bangladesh Welfare Association in St Albans where he is described as a ‘trustworthy individual’. And a job will be available at a tandoori restaurant in Northwood Hills when he is released.”

Addressing all five defendants, Judge Stephen Warner said: “Those that use and abuse drugs devastate lives and causes misery and degradation to those that are addicted to them.

“This was an extensive operation for supply of class A drugs in this area.

“This was commercial dealing on a significant scale.

“The organisation was such that the drugs could be readily ordered over the telephone and delivered by car or some instances by foot.

“Each of you played a role in the distribution network and played a willing part in it.

“It is clear there were others higher up the chain than you were. That is often the way things are set up.

“The offences are so serious that only a custodial sentence can be imposed.”

Hussain received four years two months imprisonment; Sadeq Uddin, 24, of Dell Field, St Albans, got four years and six months; Sachin Chauhan, 20, of New Greens Avenue, St Albans, received three years in a young offenders institution; Shuez Kadir, 24, of Market Avenue, St Albans, also received three years imprisonment.

Mohammed Alamin, 20, of Dellfield, St Albans, who was found guilty after trial, was handed three years and nine months imprisonment.