A GANG of seven heroin suppliers were jailed yesterday for dealing the drug on the streets of Newport.

The gang, led by Hassan Mohammed, the former assistant manager of the town's Megabowl, controlled Newport's seedy drugs underworld.

Today they are all behind bars, after being jailed for a total of 40 years at Cardiff crown court.

They all pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply heroin. Around £300,000 of the drug was seized.

Mohammed, 29, of Kirby Lane was jailed for ten years, after admitting he was in charge of the heroin dealing operation in Newport. Jamie Prince, 23, of Adeline Street, Manzoor 'Carl' Hussein, of Haynes Court and Mohammed Bashir, 33, of Alma Street - all in Pill, were each jailed for seven years for dealing heroin.

Nalarajen Virasami, 22, of Covent Way, Middlesex, and Talib Hussain, 30, of Commercial Street, Pill, were both jailed for three and a half years for their roles as couriers.

Joanne Pugh, also known as Joanne Yeates, 30, of Millman Street, in Pill was jailed for 18 months.