Thirty people have been sentenced to more than 100 years in prison after Operation Acid Drop, which tackled drug crime in Mansfield and Ashfield.

Five other people have been given drug treatment orders as a result of the operation, which started in January.

Nottinghamshire police have applied for anti-social behaviour orders to be granted on each convicted drug dealer.

Covert tactics

So far, five out of 18 applications have been granted by the courts.

The police operation used a team of undercover officers employing covert tactics to gather evidence.

Det Insp Ray Goddard, of Nottinghamshire police, said: "We have worked hard to eliminate the anti-social misery caused by crack dens, and in being so effective in that area our efforts have pushed dealers out into the open and, thanks to Acid Drop, into our hands.

Drug cartel

"Our efforts have unsettled remaining dealers - we want them to be looking over their shoulders."

The crackdown followed an earlier anti-drug effort, the two-year-long Operation Normality, which targeted a family in the area behind one of the county's biggest drug cartels, police said.

Rebecca Bridge, 23, from Skegness, John Dawes, 37, Arthur Dawes, 59, and Ryan Smith, 23, all from Sutton-in-Ashfield, were convicted in May after a nine-week trial at Nottingham Crown Court.

Ringleader John Dawes was jailed for 24 years and Smith for 14 years for conspiracy to supply heroin and amphetamine and money laundering.