Two dealers behind a conspiracy to ship class A drugs from Holland for sale on the streets of Swindon have been jailed. 

Callum Thorn, 26, of Kingsham Road in Chichester, and 32-year-old Benjamin Danso-Obeng, of Acorn Way in Hardwicke, were both found guilty of two counts of conspiracy to supply heroin and cocaine last year.

Five kilograms of cocaine and heroin was recover by police at the Lok n Store facility in Kembrey Park, Swindon in February 2022, where Danso-Obeng and Thorn had been seen by police meeting and exchanging bags on more than one occasion. 

Danso-Obeng has used a noodle business Always About to import the high quantities of drugs from Holland into the United Kingdom, and then Thorn distributed those drugs for sale in Swindon. 

Danso-Obeng was sentenced to nine years in prison, and given a further one year to be served concurrently. 

Thorn was given six-and-a-half years in prison, with three other sentences running concurrently. 

During a sentencing hearing at Swindon Crown Court on May 10, Judge Townsend ruled that he considered Danso-Obeng, who he described as being an "intelligent and articulate man", to be in a leading role position within the drug dealing conspiracy. 

He said: "You were involved in the sourcing of class A drugs, bringing them here for distribution, setting up of this enterprise, and there was intent by you to conceal it which required a great deal of planning."

He added: "You have undoubtedly had a particular difficult start in life, even by the standards of many of those here in this court but those difficulties cannot explain away the deliberate decision to take part in this conspiracy, although, they do reduce culpability to some extent. 

And on Thorn, who had himself been attacked and left with long-term difficulties, Judge Townsend said: "It seemed to me that you were one place down within the hierarchy of this operation which was on a commercial scale.

"You significantly helped Mr Danso-Obeng, when supplies came in, you organised and influenced others within the chain.

"You sold the drugs at a high level, stored them, exercised pressure on others, and there was some financial reward. The world of drugs is significantly violent, I know you were subjected to some violence on multiple occasions but I am satisfied that you were willingly taking part."

The five kilograms of cocaine and heroin that was recovered by police at the Lok n Store facility in Kembrey Park, on February 9, 2022, was described as one of the largest-ever quantities found in Swindon.

During a trial in June 2023, Thorn was found guilty of two counts of conspiracy to supply heroin and cocaine, two counts of possessing criminal property, possession with intent to supply, and possession of an offensive weapon. 

At the same trial, Danso Obeng was also found guilty of two counts of conspiracy to supply heroin and cocaine as well as two counts of possession with intent to supply and possession of criminal property. 

Detective Chief Inspector Angela Shipp, the senior investigating officer in the case, said: "Criminals such as Callum Thorn and Benjamin Danso-Obeng who deal drugs in our communities cause significant harm and this police operation to disrupt their criminality has taken considerable efforts by the investigation team and for this, I would like to thank them for their diligence and hard work."

Swindon woman Laura Taylor, 35, of Frank Warmin Court, had previously pleaded guilty to drugs charges related to the case. She was also due to be sentenced but did not arrive, so will be sentenced in her absence. 

The seized drugs and related paraphernalia will be forfeited and destroyed.