Couple fronted big drugs cartel

Barry Warden and his wife gave the impression of being a poor couple

A family-run drugs cartel generated hundreds of thousands of pounds over a decade, a court heard on Tuesday.

Barry Warden and his wife Mavis gave the impression of being a poor couple living in a former council home in Belt Drove, near Wisbech, Cambs.

But police said they were a front for an illegal firm which supplied cocaine and cannabis on a "massive scale" throughout Cambs, Lincs and Norfolk.

The couple pleaded guilty to various drug offences at Cambridge Crown Court.

Detectives said the Wardens would import drugs then store them in socks hung in trees, in pickle barrels and buried in holes in the ground.

They also hid cash in a stretch of land near their home called "Crooked Bank".

About 300 officers took part in the raids

Police said they drew a "treasure map" on the back of a shopping receipt showing where drugs and cash were hidden.

Rubber gloves with one finger blown up would act as pointers to cash or drugs stores. Barry Warden senior, 60, Barry Warden junior, 26, Mavis Warden, 54, and Gary Muller, 27, all admitted conspiracy to supply cocaine and cannabis.

Neil Cousins, 25, pleaded guilty to being concerned with the supply of cannabis and Daniel Ward, 26, admitted conspiracy to supply cannabis.

Peter Ardener, 26, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cannabis, Grant Rider, 23, admitted consipracy to supply cocaine and to supplying cannabis and Daniel Brown, 27, and Stephanie Lack, 25, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cannabis.

Richard Warden, 28, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cannabis and cocaine and Betty Warden admitted conspiracy to supply cannabis and possession of cocaine and possession of amphetamine.

All 12 are due to be sentenced later this summer.