Nine people have been sentenced for smuggling £7million of the Class A drug crystal meth into Nottinghamshire.

The haul was the largest ever seized by Nottinghamshire Police, and was intercepted as the gang attempted to smuggle it from the US.

Prior to his arrest in September 2023, boxing coach and ringleader Davante James posted videos showing his lavish lifestyle on social media.

Photos and videos of huge amounts of money and expensive jewelry, as well as exotic holidays, filled his online profile.

The multi-million pound drugs operation was uncovered following a parcel interception at Stansted Airport in May 2023.

The package had been shipped from America and had a label that described it as a weight loss shake.

But when examined by Border Force officials, the parcel was found to contain 900g of methamphetamine – also called crystal meth – and 2kg of cannabis.

The investigation found the gang launched their drugs enterprise by finding addresses where they could drop off the drug shipments.

The criminal associates would then abuse their relationships, friendships and trust to trick the occupants of the addresses into accepting parcels, which they believed to be for a legitimate purpose.

The drugs shipments would be disguised in shipping labels as a weight loss powder, furniture, clothing and motorcycle helmets.

Once the parcels were delivered the contents were decanted and sold throughout Nottinghamshire and other parts of the UK.

The money was used to fund luxury holidays in places like Thailand and the Dominican Republic, and designer clothing, including a pair of trainers worth £1,200.

All nine gang members pleaded guilty to importing the Class A and B drugs into the UK and were sentenced at Nottingham Crown Court.

They are:

Sentence: 17 years jail

Sentence: 11 years, six months jail

Sentence: five years, four months jail

Sentence: seven years, six months jail

Sentence: 45 months jail

Sentence: 38 months jail

Sentence: 18 months community order

Sentence: 18 months community order

Sentence: 18 months community order

Following the sentencings, Detective Inspector Ian Smith, of Nottinghamshire Police’s Serious Organised Crime Unit, said:

“This has been an exhaustive investigation which has culminated in almost 50 years of prison sentences.

“Together with UK Border Force, we have wiped out an organised criminal group, preventing them from continuing to gain extreme profits.

"Drugs on this scale invariably lead to further criminality including violence and acquisitive crime so to seize this quantity of drugs and secure a plethora of convictions is an excellent result.

"Criminal gangs operating will not be tolerated and we will find you and we will prosecute you.

“We are now pursuing powers under the Proceeds of Crime Act to ensure that any property, cash or profits gained through this gang’s criminal activity are identified and seized.”

Monique Wrench, Border Force Director of UK operations, added: "We will continue to work closely with Nottinghamshire Police to stop illegal drugs from entering our communities and to bring those responsible to justice."