Five members of a gang who dealt crack cocaine, heroin and cannabis have been jailed for a total of more than 25 years.

The men were caught after police raided an address in Barnet and filmed them throwing packages of drugs off a balcony.

Harrow Crown Court heard how on Thursday, March 1, at around 2pm, officers executed a search warrant at a one-bedroom property.

While a number of officers forced their way in, one remained outside and filmed Salman Ahmed throwing packages of crack cocaine and heroin off the balcony while Ahmad Azimi threw out several wraps of the drugs.

Police found a number of loose wraps of crack cocaine and heroin in the kitchen, an electronic scales, a razor blade and a zip lock bag of herbal cannabis on the coffee table, and a large vacuum sealed bag of cannabis in a cupboard.

All five men were arrested at the address and taken into police custody.

They were convicted of possession with intent to supply class A drugs, crack cocaine and heroin, and a class B drug, cannabis.

Following a five-week-trial, three of the men were sentenced at Harrow Crown Court on Friday, October 26.

Shaban Hotak, 23, of Roman Road, East Ham, Ahmad Azimi, 22, of Islip Close, Maidstone, and Salman Ahmed, 25, of Tudor Court, North Wembley, were each sentenced to five years and six months' imprisonment.

Hussein Mohamed Ismail, 21, of Brenthurst Road, Willesden, and Samim Islami, 21, of Merritt Gardens, Chessington, both pleaded guilty to the same charges and were sentenced at Harrow Crown Court on August 29.

Ismail was handed a four year sentence while Islami was imprisoned for five years.

PC Owen Bateman, of Barnet Gangs Unit, said: “These men were caught with a large quantity of class A drugs as the result of a proactive operation by officers in the Gangs Unit.

“The supply of drugs across London and the Home Counties fuels violence and exploitation, particularly involving young people.

“I hope the lengthy jail sentences handed to these five men will deter those tempted to become involved in drug dealing.

"If you are concerned about a friend or family member involved in gangs ask to be contacted by your local gangs unit by contacting police via 101 or by calling Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”