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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 drug from Liverpool, Cardiff Crown Court heard. | 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. |
They all pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply heroin. | They all pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply heroin. |
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 "blinded by greed, unable to see the effects of heroin on society at large and on other people's children". |
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 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 (11lb) 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. |
The men's jail sentences: | The men's jail sentences: |
Two further defendants will be sentenced at a later date. | 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. | 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. |
The court also heard that Watson, from Pentwyn, Cardiff, provided expertise and tested the drug for quality. | The court also heard that Watson, from Pentwyn, Cardiff, provided expertise and tested the drug for quality. |
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". | 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". |
"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. | "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. |