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£500,000 Cardiff heroin gang jailed for 37 years £500,000 Cardiff heroin gang jailed for 40 years
(35 minutes later)
Six members of a gang who were caught with £500,000 worth of heroin to be sold on the streets of Cardiff and Swansea have been jailed. Seven members of a gang who were caught with £500,000 worth of heroin to be sold on the streets of Cardiff and Swansea have been jailed.
The group had been running a major operation to bring in the Class A drug from Liverpool.The group had been running a major operation to bring in the Class A drug from Liverpool.
David Cook, Damien Farrugia, David Hale, Joel Harris, Anthony Watson and Joseph Thomas were jailed for 37 years. David Cook, Damien Farrugia, David Hale, Joel Harris, Anthony Watson, Elisha Mutsunge and Joseph Thomas were jailed for 40 years.
The probe was initially small-scale until officers realised the scale of the dealing, Cardiff Crown Court heard. A judge at Cardiff Crown Court told them they had been "blinded by greed".
Sentencing, Judge Tom Crowther QC told the men they had been "blinded by greed, unable to see the effects of heroin on society at large and on other people's children". Sentencing, Judge Tom Crowther QC told the men they had been "unable to see the effects of heroin on society at large and on other people's children".
'Wholesale quantities''Wholesale quantities'
The court heard the conspiracy was uncovered when police arrested Thomas - who was the man at the centre of it - outside his parents' home in Butetown, Cardiff. The probe was initially small-scale until officers realised the scale of the dealing, the court was told.
The conspiracy was uncovered when police arrested Thomas - who was the man at the centre of it - outside his parents' home in Butetown, Cardiff.
A bag he was carrying contained £73,620 split up into smaller labelled bags.A bag he was carrying contained £73,620 split up into smaller labelled bags.
A search of his home found almost 5kg of heroin worth £500,000, which was split into 500g bricks.A search of his home found almost 5kg of heroin worth £500,000, which was split into 500g bricks.
Blackberry phones
Prosecutor Mike Hammett described the drugs as "wholesale quantities" and said most was stored in a bin in Thomas's garden.Prosecutor Mike Hammett described the drugs as "wholesale quantities" and said most was stored in a bin in Thomas's garden.
Two blackberry mobile phones also found at his address contained 1,000 messages relating to the supply of heroin.Two blackberry mobile phones also found at his address contained 1,000 messages relating to the supply of heroin.
Thomas was jailed for nine years.Thomas was jailed for nine years.
Watson, from Pentwyn, Cardiff, who the court heard provided expertise and tested the drug for quality, received six years.Watson, from Pentwyn, Cardiff, who the court heard provided expertise and tested the drug for quality, received six years.
Harris also received six years while Farugia was handed a five-year sentence and Cook eight years.Harris also received six years while Farugia was handed a five-year sentence and Cook eight years.
Hale was sentenced to 40 months. Mutsunge was jailed for three years and Hale was sentenced to 40 months.
The police operation lasted 18 months.The police operation lasted 18 months.