The arrests included a drug-dealing mother and son duo and a man officers believed to have handled £20m of drugs in a single month.
Another had delivered Ransome’s drugs from Essex to dealers in Birmingham, Southampton and Sheerness, Kent, all in one day.
“This vast supply in illegal substances doubtless fuelled extensive violence, threats and the use of weapons,” added Det Insp Adler.
Ransome was traced to Thailand by police as he continued to withdraw money from his bank account.
In conjunction with the National Crime Agency and Royal Thai Police, officers arrested him at a restaurant in Phuket on 2 September 2024.