Pleas for leniency from Britain's biggest cannabis smuggling ring have been largely ignored, despite claims they had found God and become Samaritans and teachers.

The bosses of the ring, which operated out of Kingston, Surbiton, Epsom and Sutton lock-ups and homes, will spend up to 16 years each behind bars.

During the sentencing of 12 men involved in the £63m ring at Southwark Crown Court today, Judge Gregory Stone also banned some of them from travelling abroad for two years after they are finally released.

Sentences handed down were; 16 years for Terry Bowler, 14 years for Peter Moran, 14 years for Mark Kinnimont, three-and-a-half years for Peter Brown, eight-and-a-half years for Roger Alexander, three-and-a-half years for James Hay, seven years for Liam Salter and seven years for Timothy Sullivan.

Judge Stone said he believed they might head abroad to Pakistan, Dubai or Switzerland to spend the millions they are believed to have hidden away.

Surrey Comet:

He told Bowler, 40, of Kingston: "I have no doubt a large amount of money abroad was for your benefit.

"I have to sentence you for the whole of the money laundering operation as that is the extent of your involvement in the operation."

Family and friend of the defendants, including Mandy Cripps, who was acquitted during an earlier trial of keeping deal books for her drug-dealer boyfriend, were forced to wait after flooding closed court number 1.

Commenting after the case, Detective Chief Inspector Steve Wallace, said: "They are right at the top end of sentencing powers for the judge and it reflects the unique nature and size of this offence.

"The judge opened by saying there weren't any cases with such an amount of drugs trafficked.

"This is half-time for me and we now go on to identifying the proceeds that came out of the drug trafficking activity."

Police will now seek to hit the dealers where it hurts by confiscating property, money and assets including 12 homes in Lanzarote.

For more visit www.surreycomet.co.uk/operationkarnak