A Hexham shop owner is among five people jailed for flooding the streets of the North East with drugs.

Kayana Dodgson, of Mamma Mantra, was jailed for nine-and-a-half years for possession with intent to supply and being concerned in the production of cannabis and possession of criminal property.

Dodgson, of Newburn Road, Throckley, was part of an Albanian drugs ring responsible for producing and selling large quantities of cannabis across the North East, with volumes seized worth around £60,000.

Police started the investigation in February last year after spotting a suspicious-looking car on Axebridge Gardens in Newcastle’s West End, where they found two men Erdi Haldeda, 33, was in the driver’s seat and associate Olti Gjoni, 33, in the passenger’s side with a bag of £47,574 in cash.

After some routine checks, it was revealed Haldeda had no licence or insurance and that the car was actually registered to an address and keeper in Glasgow – later confirmed as another associate Kayana Dodgson.

As part of the investigation an extensive CCTV trawl was carried out and the car was seen parked outside an address on Beech Street, Benwell, minutes before officers intercepted it - and Gjoni was caught on camera placing the bag of cash into the passenger’s side.

A search of Haldeda’s address on Faraday Grove in Gateshead recovered a quantity of cannabis bush and searches of a property in Newburn saw officers recover 12.5 kilos of cannabis bush and another £15,000 in cash.

Telecoms inquiries soon revealed the involvement of the Alcani brothers Elegantin, 24, and Klerdi, 25, who were quickly identified as key players in the production chain of the Class B drug.

All five were arrested and later appeared at Newcastle Crown Court charged with their respective roles.

Erdi Haldeda, of Gateshead, was found guilty of possession of criminal property and had previously admitted possession of cannabis, driving without insurance or a licence. He was jailed for two years and six months.

Olti Gjoni, of Wallsend, admitted possessing criminal property and was jailed for 12 months and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £156.

Elegantin Alcani, of Benwell, was jailed for two-years-and-seven-months for being concerned in the production of cannabis.

His brother Klerdi Alcani, 25, of  Bensham, was jailed for six-and-a-half years for being concerned in Production of Cannabis and Possession of criminal property.

Detective Chief Inspector Angela Hudson, from Northumbria Police praised her team’s hard work and determination.

She said: “As a Force we have made it clear that we will absolutely not tolerate the production, supply and sale of illegal and illicit drugs that cause our communities harm and we will do everything in our power as part of Operation Sentinel to dismantle the groups who are involved in this.

“Thanks to a complex police investigation, an organised criminal group has been jailed and a significant amount of illegal drugs and suspected criminal cash seized and prevented from being used to further fund criminal activity. I would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every officer, staff member and partners in the criminal justice system, whose hard work has helped secure such a positive result.

“We understand people have differing views on cannabis, but the reality is these criminal groups will use their ill-gotten gains to commit further, more serious offences which have a profound impact on our communities, as well as the vulnerable drug users who get caught up in this.

“We will continue to play our part in tackling serious and organised crime and would urge residents to keep an eye out and report any suspicious activity to us.”

The final part of this investigation will see a Proceeds of Crime hearing on February 17 next year where a court will decide whether the seized cash is an ill-gotten gain or was lawfully held.