Two men who were involved in drug dealing in Ipswich have been given prison sentences totalling 12 years.

Police officers launched an operation in the town earlier this year to target hotspots where drug dealing was taking place, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

Michael Crimp, prosecuting, said that during the operation, which started in January, undercover police officers contacted two telephone “hotlines” and arranged to purchase Class A drugs.

Drugs were purchased at a number of locations around Ipswich including Burrell Road, Samuel Court, Crescent Road, Cardinal Park, Hadleigh Road, Gippeswyk Park, Alexandra Park and the Cardinal Park area.

Sentencing Gregory Branagan, 42, of Fonnereau Road, Ipswich, and Michael Walsh, 23, of no fixed address, who were arrested as a result of the operation, Judge Martyn Levett said the drug dealing “hotlines” had been operated “24/7 365 days a year”.

He said the defendants had been involved in the chain of supply in a “well oiled machine.”

Branagan admitted four offences of supplying Class A drugs and was jailed for six years.

Walsh admitted four offences of supplying heroin, supplying cocaine, possessing cocaine with intent to supply and being concerned in the supply of heroin and was jailed for six years.

Last week three men and a 16- year-old boy who were arrested during the same police operation were given custodial sentences totalling more than ten years.

Before the court were: Christopher Hubert, 25, of Hartley Street, Ipswich, who admitted five offences of supplying heroin and was jailed for three years; Trayvond Rankin, 20, of no fixed address, admitted two offences of supplying Class A drugs, including crack cocaine, and was sentenced to 31 months detention; a 16-year-old boy, from Ipswich, who can’t be named due to his age, who admitted supplying heroin and cocaine and was sentenced to a 12 month detention and training order and Kasparas Sadauskas, 18, of St Helen’s Street, Ipswich, who admitted conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and was sentenced to four years detention in a young offenders’ institution.

Michael Crimp, prosecuting, said Branagan, who has more than 130 previous convictions, claimed he had divided and wrapped drugs for street dealing.

The court heard that Walsh, who has 26 previous convictions, had come from London to sell drugs to pay off a drug debt.