THE wife of a convicted drug trafficker from Bournemouth has been jailed for three years for laundering proceeds of his multi-million pound criminal empire.

Fiona Blake, 40, of Huntly Road, Bournemouth, put drug trade revenue through her personal bank account, which helped her husband Craig conceal his leading role in a criminal network that stretched across southern England to South Wales, and as far afield as Australia.

Craig Blake was sentenced to 16 years and eight months in jail last year after the Serious and Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) smashed the £125 million cocaine ring that stretched from Dorset to South Wales to Kent.

Speaking after the sentencing at Cardiff Crown Court on Friday, SOCA’s Matt Horne said: “This is not simply a case of enjoying a lifestyle funded by serious criminality. Fiona Blake took an important role in attempting to conceal the profits of a major drug-dealing organisation.

“SOCA will continue to work tirelessly to dismantle entire criminal networks, however great their efforts to evade detection and launder the money they make.”

Blake, a mother, marathon runner and charity fundraiser, joins Friday Quick, another gang member's wife, behind bars.

Mr Horne added: “It is a sad fact that the Blakes’ and the Quicks’ young children now have both parents serving prison sentences. Anyone tempted to involve themselves in organised crime should consider just how devastating the consequences can be.”

Blake was the 27th person related to the gang to be convicted and she will now face a confiscation investigation over her ill-gotten gains.

Made up of three regional gangs working together, the drugs network is believed to have trafficked around half a tonne of cocaine into the UK.

SOCA’s investigation was assisted by police officers from Dorset, Kent and South Wales.

Also jailed last year were Gareth Davies, from St Luke’s Road, Bournemouth, Matthew Howgate, from Branksome Wood Road, Michael Green, from East Avenue and Lee Cutler, from Surrey Road.

Fiona Blake’s co-accused, Martin Wybrow, was acquitted of money laundering.