YORK drug squad officers are hailing a major victory in the fight to keep heroin off the streets after a dealing gang was jailed for a total of 14 years.

Officers today served notice that anyone else who deals the lethal drug will find themselves behind bars as police continue the fight against the city's most prolific dealers.

Undercover officers targeted Lee John Archer, 26, and his female accomplices with Operation Gannet, keeping a round-the-clock surveillance for five weeks before swooping on their York drugs den. Now the gang members are locked up, beginning sentences ranging from 18 months to nine years for their part in the conspiracy at No 9 Burton Green.

A team of drug officers including Detective Constable Dave Cockerill began watching the property, owned by Marguerita Lee, 40, on March 27 last year.

Archer lived there with Marguerita Lee's daughter, Andrea Louise Lee, now 18, and their newborn baby. Police watched as a stream of addicts visited the house, or went to drug meets with Archer in nearby streets. Twice they stopped addicts after the meets and found they possessed heroin.

Twenty officers, including specialist search teams and dog handlers, swooped on the house while the three conspirators were out. Archer and Andrea Lee were arrested in Kingsway North. Marguerita Lee was arrested in a car.

Geraldine Kelly, prosecuting, told York Crown Court that £18,780 worth of heroin was found in the house or on the three gang members. Marguerita Lee also had £10,900 in cash in her bedroom. Police even dug up a large stash of heroin in the garden of an unsuspecting elderly neighbour.

Archer was jailed for nine years, Marguerita Lee, who was the banker, was jailed for three-and-a-half years. The court heard she looked after people with mental health problems during the day, but had a double life as an escort girl at night.

Andrea Lee was given an 18-month detention and training order. All three admitted conspiracy to supply heroin.

Det Con Cockerill said: "This is a victory in the war against the supply of the lethal drug heroin. It was a commercial enterprise."

Andrea Lee and Archer have been separated from their newborn baby, but police said that was the risk that dealers of heroin take.

Recorder Geoffrey Marson QC told the court the Lee family's dealing was a "clearly profitable" commercial set up in a "filthy trade". He told Archer he was the prime mover in the enterprise, and told Marguerita Lee she gave no thought of the consequences to those who came to buy heroin. Andrea Lee was told she would have received a longer sentence, had she been older.

Nicholas Johnson, representing Archer, said he was remorseful and most of the drug belonged to another person.

Fiona Dix-Dyer, for Marguerita Lee, said she chose to turn a blind- eye rather than put her daughter and grandchild on the streets.

Paul Williams, representing Andrea Lee, said she was frightened of Archer.

Updated: 10:41 Thursday, March 04, 2004