Six members of a gang which plotted to flood bars and clubs in Sussex with millions of pounds of cocaine have today been jailed for a total of 86 years.
High-living mastermind Lubia Ram, 47, was given 20 years for his part in the conspiracy to smuggle cocaine worth £5million from South America.
Ram, of Delfont Close, Crawley, put up £70,000 and plotted with Oscar Salas-Weslke to buy the Class A drug in Peru.
Salas-weslke, 54, of East Park, Crawley, flew three times to his native Peru to set up the importation.
The unemployed chef hid bullets of almost 100 per cent pure cocaine in 35mm film canisters and posted them to to safe addresses in Crawley and Brighton.
He was jailed for 22 years today at the end of a four-month trial at Hove Crown Court.
Moves are underway to deport him to Peru to continue serving his sentence there.
His son Nathan Chapman-Salas, 28, acted as their "gopher".
He sent Ram's money to his father in Peru and collected the drugs when they arrived in Sussex.
Chapman-Sallas, 28, of Innes Road, Horsham, a father-of-three, was sent to prison for 15 years.
Bouncer and former judo champion Richard Casella, described as Ram's "muscle", provided safe addresses for the drugs to be sent to.
They included those of his brother and a former girlfriend.
Casella,43, of Hophurst Drive, Crawley, was jailed for 12 years.
Self-confessed crack-cocaine addict Trevor Bodwen also provided a safe address for the drugs to be sent to.
Bowden, 38, of Clive Way, Crawley, was given ten years behind bars yesterday.
Julian Fernandez, 25, accepted packages drugs at his home in Railey Road, Crawley.
The student and part-time waiter was the only one who admitted his role in the conspiracy.
He offered to give evidence against Salas-Weslke in the hope of receiving a lighter sentence but prosecutors refused the deal.
Fernandez is today starting a seven-year sentence for his part in the conspiracy.
The plot failed after German customs officers intercepted three consignments of drugs posted from Peru between July and October last year.
They tipped off Sussex Police and the near 100 per cent pure cocaine was removed.
Detective Constable Peter Stapleton posed as a postman to see who accepted the dummy packages at addresses in Crawley.
The court heard Ram put up £70,000 to buy the cocaine which sells at £2,000 a kilo in Peru.
It is estimated that the 35kg his money would have bought would have sold on the streets of Sussex for £5million.
Judge Guy Anthony told them: "You Salas-Weselke and Ram were the two central brains. Neither has expressed the slightest remorse.
"Chapman-Salas you played a very significant role, acting as middle-man.
"You were more than happy to assist in this enterprise in the expectation of significant profits.
"It was you who put Fabio de Palma in peril of being convicted and you who involved Bowden.
"Richard Casella, you embarked on the scheme with greater enthusiasm than some of the others.
"You provided the addresses of your own brother and your then girlfriend for Ram to use.
"On the jury's verdict you got your brother into serious trouble through no fault of his own."
Detective Sergeant Tony Pike, who led the investigation, said he was pleased with the sentences.
He said: "They are deterent sentences and will be seen as such.
"This is a clear warning to people not to deal drugs in Susex."
Detective Constable Stuart Black added: "We have taken out Oscar Salas-Weslke who was the head of purchasing in Peru.
"We have taken out Ram, the head in this country of financing the operation.
"We have taken out Nathan Chapman-Salas, the head in this country of distribution.
"We have taken out Richard Casella who, in our belief, was the main muscle behind those three.
"We have managed to convict four major people within this organised crime group.
"Although three importations were stopped we are convinced others got through."
Three other men who also stood trial were found not guilty.
They were businessman Russell Lawrence, 49, of Maidenbower Place, Crawley, Richard Casella's brother Paul, 44, of Capricorn Close, Crawley, and Fabio de Palma,30, of Albany Road, Crawley.
Ram, who wore expensive jewellery including a £6,000 Rolex watch and a £1,200 diamond ring now faces a financial investigation.
He drove flash cars which included a £90,000 Mercedes AMG sports saloon with a personalised RAM number plate.
The jury heard how he boasted he was a millionaire, wore designer clothes and drank £80-a-bottle champagne in Crawley night clubs.
All his property could now be confiscated under the Proceeds of Crime Act at a hearing to be fixed next year.
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