FOUR drug dealing "peddlers of misery" are today behind bars marking a victory in the county's war on the scourge of drugs.The gang were, including a major player in Suffolk's supply of illegal drugs, were caught by an major undercover police operation as part of Suffolk police's drugs crackdown Operation Taurus.

FOUR drug dealing "peddlers of misery" are today behind bars marking a victory in the county's war on the scourge of drugs.

The gang were, including a major player in Suffolk's supply of illegal drugs, were caught by an major undercover police operation as part of Suffolk police's drugs crackdown Operation Taurus.

Abubakar Mohammed, who is beginning a three-and-a-half year jail term, was identified as a "key dealer" in Ipswich and was said to be "prolific" in the supply class A drugs.

He was part of a gang of four which included Hamza Muhidin, 22, Hamza Ahmed, 25, and Nur Issack.

The news of this case comes on the day prime minister Tony Blair announced new measures to crack down on drug dealers.

Mr Blair said: "We must bear down further on the organised criminals but also the street dealers who peddle the misery of drugs.

"We are offering a choice. If you are a drug addict engaged in crime you will be offered a way out through treatment and help. If you refuse that offer it will be made more difficult for you at every stage in the criminal justice system."

All four pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to supply drugs at Ipswich Crown Court on November 18.

The court heard that the gang was followed by undercover police officers as they made numerous drug deals in Ipswich from January to April 15 this year.

When sentencing 24-year-old Mohammed, Judge Peter Thompson described him as being "confident and in charge" of his drug dealing gang.

He said: "I don't accept that you are at the same level as the other defendants today. You are confident and in charge and you interrogated the police officer."

Speaking after the case, detective chief inspector Dave Cole, a senior investigating officer, backed the judge's stance.

He said: "The judge quite rightly identified him as being a leading dealer.

"We look to target anybody who engages in the dealing of class A drugs, whether they be at the bottom end of the scale or, as in this case, one of the leading street suppliers in Ipswich.

"Their sentences will reflect their part in the network, as has been shown in this case."

DCI Cole said intelligence showed Mohammed was a major cog in the Ipswich drugs scene.

He said: "The evidence that resulted in this conviction portrayed how prolific he was in the street supply of drugs in Ipswich.

"The evidence certainly supported the fact he was in control of this particular network. Our intelligence showed he was a key dealer in the town."

However, the case was delayed while Judge Thompson had to decide Issack's age after he duped the court by giving a false date of birth.

But Mr Thompson heard submissions and finally ruled that he believed him to be older saying the court would record Issack's date of birth as February 5 1985, another date he had previously given to police.

Issack was sentenced to two years in a young offender's institute.

Mohammed was sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison.

Ahmed and Muhidin were sentenced to three years in prison. Muhidin was also sentenced to six months in prison for a separate case of dangerous driving and disqualified for driving for three years.