THE mastermind behind a multi-million pound drugs operation in the North-west is starting an 11-year jail term.

Andrew Bullough was one of five men sentenced on Thursday to a total of 27 years in prison for supplying drugs.

Bullough was arrested earlier this year as part of Operation Scorpion, aimed at aimed at tackling large-scale drug dealers.

Along with Wayne Tudor, Bullough was arrested at an address in Bury in January this year with more than 100,000 ecstasy tablets and a substantial amount of cannabis and amphetamine.

Police then searched a number of houses and industrial units in the Wigan area and made further arrests.

In total, £4 million pounds worth of drugs was seized, disrupting supply to the region, police say.

Bullough, aged 38, of New Bold Street, Bury, admitted conspiracy to supply class A, B and C drugs and was jailed for 11 years.

At Liverpool Crown Court yesterday, Tudor, aged 34, of Sycamore Place, Whitefield, was jailed for five years for conspiracy to supply class A, B and C drugs.

Also jailed were Trevor Pearson, aged 42, of Grenfell Close, Worsley Mesnes, Wigan, and Michael McGuire, aged 38, of Courier Place, Marsh Green, Wigan, who were given three-and-a-half and four years respectively for conspiracy to supply class B and C drugs.

Peter Gerard McGee, aged 29, of Liverpool, was sentenced to four years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply class C drugs.

John Eric Spiby, aged 49, of Parnell Pitt Cottage, Astley, was one of three men already sentenced for their part in the network. He was sentenced to three years imprisonment in August this year after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply class B and C drugs.

The gang supplied drugs to the Bury and Wigan areas.

Supt David Brown, of Greater Manchester Police's serious and organised crime group, said: "Bullough was the head of this network and his 11 years imprisonment reflects the role he played.

"When he was arrested with Tudor, they were in possession of 100,000 ecstasy tablets. In total, drugs to the value of £4 million were recovered, disrupting a major drug network in the region."