The group was so prolific officers believe it was responsible for the majority of airdrops at jails across London.

An investigation was launched in December into the drugs and mobile phones that were being delivered in the middle of the night.

This led to the arrest of the seven-person team which consisted of drone pilots, co-pilots, taxi drivers and lookouts.

They were being closely monitored by specialist crime officers who identified over 50 drone drops in the three months they were monitoring them.

Officers decided to take action and intercept the gang after they established prohibited items were being smuggled into prisons using the drones, significantly increasing the threat posed.

The suspects were covertly pursued by officers and in the early hours of February last year, four men were arrested less than a mile from HMP Norwich. When searching their car officers found a knife, a drone and cannabis.

Detective Inspector John Cowell, who led the investigation, said:

“This highly organised gang thought they were outsmarting the police and prison authorities. What they didn’t know is they were subject to sustained specialist surveillance by Met officers, who identified those responsible and brought them to justice.

“We will continue to work closely with the Prison Service to tackle the gangs who bring violence and drugs to our prisons. Criminals should be under no illusion we will use every tool available to us to put them behind bars.”

Minister for Prisons, Probation and Reducing Reoffending Lord Timpson, said:

“We are closing in on the criminals who think they can exploit our prisons from the sky. Anyone trying to smuggle drugs, weapons or phones into jail using drones should be in no doubt — we will track you down, we will catch you, and you will face the full force of the law.

“I pay tribute to our diligent prison service staff and policing partners for their relentless work in smashing this operation and bringing those responsible to justice.”

The gang targeted prisons including Wormwood Scrubs, Brixton, Pentonville, Wandsworth, Norwich, Leicester, Onley and Bedford.

Packages smuggled in included class B drugs, mobile phones, chargers, and SIM cards.