THEY ARE the dirty dozen that trafficked half-a-million pounds worth of class A drugs onto the streets of Hampshire, bringing misery to many.

The prolific “AZ” gang plagued Southampton for more than a year, operating a sophisticated network that supplied crack cocaine and heroin from London, targeting city’s most vulnerable people.

Unafraid of using violence – one member was found with a stun gun disguised as a mobile phone at his Southampton home – and carrying out two drug runs from the capital a day at their peak, the dangerous gang had such a hold over the drugs supply in the city that it took an undercover officer just 90 minutes to get his hands on a stash.

But today that network is in ruins, after a major police investigation spanning almost two years brought the gang to its knees, with 12 of their key players sentenced to a total of more than 46 years behind bars.

Known as Operation Mohican, teams of police officers from several units across the force, as well as teams from the Metropolitan Police Service targeted the AZ drug network at all levels, with the one aim of “dismantling it from top to bottom”.

Led by Alizan Bockhari, who now faces ten years in jail, the gang was made up of a network of transient class A drug dealers, operating from the Southall and Feltham area of London.

The extensive investigation included Operation Anise - the covert part of their work - using undercover police officers who were sent onto the streets of Southampton to purchase drugs from organised crime groups operating in the area.

The AZ gang were so prolific at the time, that the first covert officer, who had never been to the city before, was able to buy drugs from them within an hour and a half.

Detective Constable Kat Wisdom, said: “This operation has identified that, when operating at its peak, there were daily, if not twice daily suspected drug runs into the city.

“Despite previous arrests of members of the network over the years, the AZ members managed to maintain their presence in Southampton. The aim of Operation Mohican was to dismantle the network from the top to the bottom.

“The investigation targeted people operating at all levels within the network, including runners, couriers, the banker and heads of the network.

“These people have been responsible for causing misery to members of the Southampton community over many years.

Daily Echo: A Stun gun disguised as mobile phone.

“They have used violence towards, exploited and persistently targeted vulnerable people.”

As a result of the operation – which was part of the force’s Operation Fortress that is aimed at stamping out drug related crime blighting city communities – a number of people were charged in relations to their involvement with the conspiracy to supply crack cocaine and heroin.

Network This included the daily running and management of the network between January 1, 2013 and January 31, 2014.

At Southampton Crown Court, the prosecution estimated the value of drugs involved in the conspiracy was at least £500,000, which equates to five kilos of cocaine and heroin.

Daily Echo:

DC Wisdom said: “Since the Operation Anise part of the operation was launched in September 2013, the network has really struggled to continue operating in Southampton and now no longer exists in the city.

“We are working closely with those who have been affected by the presence of drugs in their communities. We have had a number of telephone boxes removed that were being used as key areas to deal drugs from.

“Working with our partners, we want to make communities across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight safer and encourage people to come forward with information about drug-related crimes where they live.

She added: “Help us help you rebuild communities around Southampton free from the fear of drugs and drug-related serious violent crime.

“If you are concerned about drugs in your neighbourhood, let us know. The more we can do about it.”