Three Albanian drug barons who came to Britain on the back of a lorry have been jailed for more than 21 years for running a multi million pound cocaine and cannabis dealing operation.

Ariolt Kuka, 22, told police he was trying to support his family back home when caught with a consignment of cocaine worth more than £1 million.

Sander Lleshi, 24, and Marjan Deda, 23, were also jailed for their roles in the gang - though Deda was only involved in the production of cannabis.

Ariolt Kuka, 22, told police he was trying to support his family back home when caught with a consignment of cocaine worth more than £1 million

They entered Britain illegally and are believed to have pending asylum claims.

Prosecutor Edward Aydin told an earlier hearing at Westminster Mags’ Court

‘All three are illegal immigrants from Albania that entered the country illegally in the back of a lorry.

‘All three are part of a much larger organised criminal network.’

The judge at Friday's sentencing in Southwark Crown Court, Mr Recorder Matthais Kelly QC, told them: ‘Class A drugs and in particular cocaine are deadly drugs.

‘They wreak social havoc upon our society, they destroy lives and families, they are a blight on many of our cities, they have destroyed numerous lives.

‘You were engaged in a deadly trade and deadly drugs, the two of you who are concerned in class A drugs.’

The judge noted that the cannabis production was also ‘on a large and professional scale’.

‘None of you can claim to be mere, unfortunate drug users roped into this trade.

‘This was an operation on a massive commercial scale.’

Kuka was jailed for 12 years, Lleshi for six years and eight months and Deda for three years.

The trio were arrested after police raided a property in Drayton Gardens, Uxbridge, west London and found a cannabis factory consisting of 40 plants and bags of fertiliser on July 4.

Bill Mcgivern, prosecuting, said: ‘With regards to Kuka, he was involved in the supply of 15 kilos of cocaine, 82 per cent purity which is just below imported levels.

‘He had a leading role - that is based on his deliveries of two kilos of cocaine to Mr Lleshi.

‘He was stopped later that same day in possession of 13 kilos of cocaine.

‘There is also text messaging, and these show him negotiating prices, discussing deliveries and supplies.’

Kuka and Lleshi were arrested after collecting plastic bags containing cocaine from a property in Rowan Road, Uxbridge, west London and getting into a minicab.

When stopped Kuka said it had nothing to do with his girlfriend, who was also in the cab.

He said: ‘It’s not mine, it’s over £1 million in that car. I do it to make money to send to my family.’

Asked what drugs were involved Kuka replied: ‘I don’t know it’s over a million, it was just an example.’

‘I don’t do it, this is the second time, they say send this back and they give me some money.’

He told police he was given £1,000 to drop off the drugs but the judge rejected any assertion that this was merely an ‘isolated incident’.

Kuka, of Southwark, and Lleshi, of Chingford, east London, admitted possessing a controlled drug with intent to supply and were jailed for 12 years and six years eight months respectively.

Deda, of no fixed address, admitted being concerned in the controlled production of cannabis and was jailed for three years.