A gang who bragged about drug deals and posed on gold thrones while operating a major heroin ring have been jailed for a total of 40 years.

The four men were at the helm of a drugs operation which saw them use military encrypted mobiles to move drugs around the country, which they hid in boxes of dog food.

As they carried out their crimes, the foursome would pose for pictures and brag about their escapades on Facebook.

In one message before embarking on a deal, one of the men, Mohammed Jabbar, took a picture of himself wearing a balaclava and joked 'for what I'm about to do I could get like 35!'.

In another picture, he was seen posing in a gold throne while wearing sunglasses and a suit.

Mohammed Jabbar, 28, (left), who has been jailed for his part in a drug ring, sits on a gold throne. His accomplice posted a picture before making a drugs deal

But the Manchester gang's huge operation began to unravel in July last year when officers found one of their customers - who had travelled to Cheetham Hill from Northampton - with a quarter of a kilo of cocaine.

It prompted a detailed police investigation which established how Jabbar, 28, and Mohammed Rafique, 40, had supplied the drugs.

Officers uncovered the scale of the racket, other members of their gang and a picture of arrogant Jabbar sitting on a gold throne.

They established that the duo met their Glasgow contact, Jeremy Curran, 34, in Cheetham Hill in August last year.

The next day police swooped as Jabbar, Rafique and a fourth member of the gang, Jonathan Clorley, 25, drove their stash of drugs north from Manchester towards Glasgow.

Mohammed Jabbar (left), of Oldham who was sentenced to 15 years in jail while Mohammed Rafique (right) was sentenced to 12 years

Jonathan Clorley (left) was sentenced to seven years in jail while Jeremy Curran (right) faces more than 14 years behind bars

On board their car were two boxes of dog treats and one of washing powder stuffed with 2.5kilos of heroin.

When their phones were examined, police were stunned to discover the gang had been using military encrypted mobiles.

Officers found the drugs hidden in boxes of dog food (pictured)

Messages sent between the phones revealed the scale and reach of their scam - as well as their arrogance.

The messages revealed that Jabbar had spoken with a colleague in the Middle East, detailing the supply of heroin to Curran.

Jabbar boasted about having £150,000 worth of drugs. Officers found a picture of Curran, wearing a balaclava, in which he appeared to joke about the scam and possible sentence if he was caught.

Under his picture is written: 'For what I'm about to do I could get like 35! Pray to God I get away!'

In another picture seized by police, suited Jabbar is seen smiling as he sits on what appears to be a throne, wearing shades and smiling.

After searching Clorley's address, police discovered a 'significant amount of powdered caffeine' which is used as a cutting agent in drug deals.

The four men were jailed after they pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine and heroin at Manchester Crown Court.

Jabbar, of Oldham, was sentenced to 15 years behind bars.

Curran, of Glasgow, was handed a 14-and-a-half year prison sentence.

The gang also used boxes of washing powder (left) to conceal the drugs (right)

Mohammed Rafique, of Cheetham Hill, was jailed for 12 years.

Jonathan Clorley, of Heald Green, was handed a seven-year prison sentence.

After the hearing, Inspector Lee Griffin, of GMP's Serious Crime Division, said: 'After concealing a large amount of potent and dangerous drugs in household items, I can only imagine the tragedy that could have occurred if these boxes had fallen into the wrong hands.

'Although these men went to great lengths to cover up their illicit dealings, it was their own arrogance which led to the downfall of their carefully laid plans.

'Dealing drugs of any kind is unacceptable and will absolutely not be tolerated in our communities.

'This sentence should be a message to others out there who continue to go against the law and supply drugs, that one day you will be brought to justice.'