THE final member of a drug trafficking gang uncovered by police after a series of raids has been spared jail.

The gang stored 4kg of cannabis, worth about £8,000, in rented offices in Waltham Abbey and police also seized an AK47 machine gun, more than 9kg of cocaine, 200kg of cannabis resin and 150 rounds of ammunition in raids across Essex and Hertfordshire.

Tracey Chapman, 39, of St Osyth Road, Clacton, was sentenced to 12 months, suspended for two years, and was given a curfew of six months at Chelmsford Crown Court yesterday (Friday).

She admitted conspiracy to launder money at a hearing last year.

Last Friday (May 11), five men were jailed for a total of 38 years for drug trafficking.

Detective Inspector Gary Murray said: “This is just one of many organised crime groups which we have dismantled in the past few months.

“These seizures cause considerable damage to criminals who choose to operate within Essex.”

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