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£500,000 Cardiff heroin gang jailed for 40 years £500,000 Cardiff heroin gang jailed for 40 years
(35 minutes later)
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.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 drug from Liverpool, Cardiff Crown Court heard.
David Cook, Damien Farrugia, David Hale, Joel Harris, Anthony Watson, Elisha Mutsunge and Joseph Thomas were jailed for 40 years.David Cook, Damien Farrugia, David Hale, Joel Harris, Anthony Watson, Elisha Mutsunge and Joseph Thomas were jailed for 40 years.
A judge at Cardiff Crown Court told them they had been "blinded by greed". They all pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply heroin.
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". 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".
'Wholesale quantities''Wholesale quantities'
The probe was initially small-scale until officers realised the scale of the dealing, the court was told. The police probe was initially small-scale until officers realised the scale of the dealing of the Class A drug, 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.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 (11lb) of heroin worth £500,000, which was split into 500g bricks.
Blackberry phones The men's jail sentences:
Two further defendants will be sentenced at a later date.
All seven defendants will have to serve at least half of their prison sentences before being released on conditional licence.
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. The court also heard that Watson, from Pentwyn, Cardiff, provided expertise and tested the drug for quality,
Watson, from Pentwyn, Cardiff, who the court heard provided expertise and tested the drug for quality, received six years. After the men were sentenced, Det Ch Supt Darren Davies said South Wales Police was pleased the court had recognised the "severity of the actions of this criminal group".
Harris also received six years while Farugia was handed a five-year sentence and Cook eight years. "Fortunately during the police investigation into this conspiracy officers intercepted around 5kg of heroin which would otherwise have made it onto the streets of south Wales," he added.
Mutsunge was jailed for three years and Hale was sentenced to 40 months.
The police operation lasted 18 months.