The 10 members of a drugs gang who used two crocodiles to guard their money have been jailed for periods of up to three years by judges in Amsterdam.

The seven men and three women, aged between 24 and 61, were arrested in February last year. The reptiles were found when police conducted raids on six houses in Amsterdam and one in Almere, netting several kilos of synthetic drugs, including €500,000 worth of crystal meth, €300,000 in cash, and several firearms.

Most of the cash was in a room in one house guarded by the two crocodiles which would-be thieves would have to pass to get to the money.

The main suspect, a 56-year-old Amsterdammer, was jailed for three years, six months suspended. The other suspects were given sentences ranging from two years to community service of 240 hours.