Seven members of a Hampshire-based this week started a total of 23-years in jail for their part in a major international drug supply ring.

Officers from the National Crime Squad followed the gang for more than two years before finally bringing a halt to the its actions in 2001, having already intercepted huge hauls of cannabis before it reached UK streets.

Six of the offenders are from the Southampton area, while a seventh is from Lincolnshire.

The convictions came about as part of "Operation Roadie", an investigation headed by the Southampton branch of the National Crime Squad,and helped by both Customs and Excise and the National Criminal Intelligence Squad.

The gang brought massive quantities of hashish into the country from Spain after hiding it in cartons of orange juice or false-bottoms in furniture before packing it into lorries and shipping it over.

For more than two years, officers tracked the suspects, placing bugs in their cars and tracing calls made on mobile phones in a bid to track the drug movements.

It proved to be a conspicuous success, with huge hauls picked up across the country, including one of 1.1-tonnes stopped on the M27 between Portsmouth and Southampton, and another 1.5-tonnes found at a "warehouse" in Lincolnshire.

Other smaller consignments were also stopped, ranging in size from 14kg to 50kg blocks, as the drugs were shuffled from storage places to dealers across the south.

In total, the hauls were thought to be worth anywhere up to £6m at street prices.

The men jailed were: Stephen Gregory (43), of Shirley Road, Shirley, Southampton, who had earlier pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply controlled drugs and was jailed for four years.

Andrew Lloyd (38), of Wilkinson Road, Grantham, Lincolnshire, who earlier pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply controlled drugs, was jailed for three-years.

Terrence Gore (54), of Commercial Road, Southampton, who had earlier pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply controlled drugs and possession with intent to supply controlled drugs, got two years. He was also given a three-month concurrent sentence for possession of cocaine.

Daniel Leach ( 23), of Longleat Gardens, Southampton, who had earlier pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply controlled drugs, was sentenced to three years.

He also received a further six-month sentence for escaping and inflicting actual bodily harm on a policeman as he tried to flee.

Matthew Roberts (21), of Arnheim Road, Southampton, who had earlier pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply controlled drugs, was sentenced to two years, along with a concurrent three-month sentence for possessing ecstasy tablets.

Anthony Hughes (46), of Woodlands Road, Woodlands, Southampton, was found guilty at trial of conspiracy to supply controlled drugs and was sentenced to three years.

Stephen Mott (42), of Church Lane, Nursling, near Romsey, who was also found guilty at trial of conspiracy to supply controlled drugs, was sentenced to six years.

Before passing sentence, Judge Patrick Hooton told the gang: "Anyone who became involved in these conspiracies, immersed themselves in the activity of bringing in illegal drugs and they are all matters that deserve prison terms."

Judge Hooton's strongest words were reserved for Mott: "In my view, you are in the most serious position in this case. You only have look at the myriad of calls you made to the others to see how important you were to the whole scheme.

"You were also a gambler and in this case your gamble didn't pay off. For what you did you will go to prison for six-years.

"I would like to add that the police officers who kept watch on these men, compiled records and produced reports, are to be highly commended for the work they have done and it's very much appreciated."

Detective Chief Inspector Vic Klinlosz, officer in charge of the National Crime Squad in Southampton, said: "We are pretty satisfied with the result today and it's good that this has finally come to a conclusion in what was a fairly major international enquiry.

"This was a difficult investigation into a well-organised criminal group based in Southampton, Kent, Lincolnshire as well as in Spain, and through these convictions we have managed to destroy this supply chain into and around the UK.

"We think the sentences are fair and the result has come about because of the hard work and commitment of all the officers involved in the case."