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Drugs gang caught with cat snacks Drugs gang caught with cat snacks
(about 12 hours later)
Police used cat biscuits to trap a gang of drug dealers who were caught with about 200,000 ecstasy tablets.Police used cat biscuits to trap a gang of drug dealers who were caught with about 200,000 ecstasy tablets.
Seven Newport men were jailed at the city's crown court for conspiring to supply ecstasy after drugs with a street value of £800,000 were seized.Seven Newport men were jailed at the city's crown court for conspiring to supply ecstasy after drugs with a street value of £800,000 were seized.
After they were sentenced to a total of over 20 years, police called it the biggest ecstasy seizure in south Wales.After they were sentenced to a total of over 20 years, police called it the biggest ecstasy seizure in south Wales.
Officers intercepted boxes in Belgium and replaced the drugs inside with cat biscuits to lure the gang into a trap.Officers intercepted boxes in Belgium and replaced the drugs inside with cat biscuits to lure the gang into a trap.
Det Insp Gary Townsend said: "This was a particularly large consignment of ecstasy that we have prevented from getting onto the streets of south Wales."Det Insp Gary Townsend said: "This was a particularly large consignment of ecstasy that we have prevented from getting onto the streets of south Wales."
The Metropolitan Police said a Dutch woman had taken six boxes to a shipping depot, DHL in Ham, Belgium, on 27 July, 2006, saying they contained books and were to be collected in London.The Metropolitan Police said a Dutch woman had taken six boxes to a shipping depot, DHL in Ham, Belgium, on 27 July, 2006, saying they contained books and were to be collected in London.
The Belgium Federal Police were called in and discovered 40 packs in each of the boxes of 46.4kg (102lb) of ecstasy.The Belgium Federal Police were called in and discovered 40 packs in each of the boxes of 46.4kg (102lb) of ecstasy.
The boxes were allowed into the UK for the contents to be analysed.The boxes were allowed into the UK for the contents to be analysed.
ECSTASY GANG SENTENCED David Perry, 23, Cromwell Road, Newport, seven years, conspiracy to supply ecstasyLee Glyn Jones, 24, Henry Wood Close, Newport, three years, conspiracy to supply ecstasyNathan Rees, 20, Fairfax Road, Newport, three years, conspiracy to supply ecstasyMichael Edward O'Connor, 23, Moorfield Place, Newport, three years, conspiracy to supply ecstasy; 30 months, conspiracy to supply ecstasy; 30 months, conspiracy to supply amphetamine sulphate. All sentences to run concurrentlyDaniel Thomas, 23, Aberthaw Road, Newport, 33 months, conspiracy to supply ecstasyJoshua John Henshaw, 18, Hendre Farm Drive, Newport, two years, conspiracy to supply ecstasyGerrard Martyn Waters, 25, Godfrey Road, Newport, nine months, suspended for two years, two-year supervision order, 150-hour community sentence, for allowing his premises to be used for the supply or attempted supply of drugs ECSTASY GANG SENTENCED David Perry, aged 23, Cromwell Road, Newport, seven years, conspiracy to supply ecstasyLee Glyn Jones, aged 24, Henry Wood Close, Newport, three years, conspiracy to supply ecstasyNathan Rees, aged 20, Fairfax Road, Newport, three years, conspiracy to supply ecstasyMichael Edward O'Connor, aged 23, Moorfield Place, Newport, three years, conspiracy to supply ecstasy; 30 months, conspiracy to supply ecstasy; 30 months, conspiracy to supply amphetamine sulphate. All sentences to run concurrentlyDaniel Thomas, aged 23, Aberthaw Road, Newport, 33 months, conspiracy to supply ecstasyJoshua John Henshaw, aged 18, Hendre Farm Drive, Newport, two years, conspiracy to supply ecstasyGerrard Martyn Waters, aged 25, Godfrey Road, Newport, nine months, suspended for two years, two-year supervision order, 150-hour community sentence, for allowing his premises to be used for the supply or attempted supply of drugs
Forensic scientists found around 200,000 ecstasy tablets, which police said was enough to supply one tablet for every 18-21-year-old in south Wales.Forensic scientists found around 200,000 ecstasy tablets, which police said was enough to supply one tablet for every 18-21-year-old in south Wales.
The packaging was then painstakingly reconstructed using cat biscuits as a substitute for the ecstasy and the boxes were returned to DHL Park Royal so police could identify who collected the package.The packaging was then painstakingly reconstructed using cat biscuits as a substitute for the ecstasy and the boxes were returned to DHL Park Royal so police could identify who collected the package.
On 30 July, 2006, police watched three men attend the depot - David Perry, 23, Lee Glyn Jones, 24, and a Dutchman.On 30 July, 2006, police watched three men attend the depot - David Perry, 23, Lee Glyn Jones, 24, and a Dutchman.
After travelling a short distance the package was loaded into a second car containing Nathan Rees, 20, and Joshua John Henshaw, 18.After travelling a short distance the package was loaded into a second car containing Nathan Rees, 20, and Joshua John Henshaw, 18.
EscapeEscape
That car was driven to Newport, while Perry and Jones took the Dutchman to London City Airport.That car was driven to Newport, while Perry and Jones took the Dutchman to London City Airport.
Meanwhile, officers watched as Perry unloaded the "drugs" into a top-floor flat in Godfrey Road, Newport, helped by Daniel Thomas, 23, and Michael Edward O'Connor, 23.Meanwhile, officers watched as Perry unloaded the "drugs" into a top-floor flat in Godfrey Road, Newport, helped by Daniel Thomas, 23, and Michael Edward O'Connor, 23.
Officers forced entry where they found the opened DHL boxes.Officers forced entry where they found the opened DHL boxes.
Perry and Thomas were discovered outside on the roof of the flat clinging to the television aerial, after trying to escape through the window.Perry and Thomas were discovered outside on the roof of the flat clinging to the television aerial, after trying to escape through the window.
Perry, Jones, Rees, O'Connor, Thomas and Henshaw all pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply ecstasy.Perry, Jones, Rees, O'Connor, Thomas and Henshaw all pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply ecstasy.
Perry was jailed for seven years, Jones, Rees and O'Connor for three years; Thomas for 33 months and Henshaw for two years.Perry was jailed for seven years, Jones, Rees and O'Connor for three years; Thomas for 33 months and Henshaw for two years.
O'Connor was also sentenced to 30 months imprisonment for a second charge of conspiracy to supply ecstasy and 30 months imprisonment for conspiracy to supply amphetamine, to run concurrently.O'Connor was also sentenced to 30 months imprisonment for a second charge of conspiracy to supply ecstasy and 30 months imprisonment for conspiracy to supply amphetamine, to run concurrently.
Gerrard Waters, who was also arrested when police searched the Newport flat, was sentenced to nine months in prison suspended for two years, a supervision order for two years and a 150-hour community sentence after pleading guilty to allowing his premises to be used for the supply or attempted supply of drugs.Gerrard Waters, who was also arrested when police searched the Newport flat, was sentenced to nine months in prison suspended for two years, a supervision order for two years and a 150-hour community sentence after pleading guilty to allowing his premises to be used for the supply or attempted supply of drugs.