Young drug dealers sentenced
POLICE FOUND DRUGS, CASH AND DESIGNER GOODS IN RAIDS AT HOMES
A GROUP of young drug dealers were found to be supplying cocaine and cannabis after their phones were seized in a number of police raids. One of them was also found in possession of more than 240g of cocaine hidden under floorboards.
Logan Adams, 20, Luke Cable, 23, Devon Evans, 22, and Macauley Thomas, 26, were all discovered to have been involved in drug dealing after police conducted raids at properties in Bargoed, Caerphilly, on February 28 last year.
In Thomas’ flat, a total of 136g of cannabis was found and an iPhone was seized.
A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on May 1 heard messages were found on Thomas’ phone relating to the supply of cannabis between April 2022 and February 2023, and tick lists showing the defendant was owed in the region of £13,500.
Between May 2022 and October 2023, Thomas and Adams were offering cannabis for sale, described by Judge Lucy Crowther as “running a shop with their phones acting as advertising displays”.
At Adams’ address, there were a number of expensive and designer items, £7,600 in cash, pepper spray, a machete, and a number of telephones.
Adams was released on bail but on June 13 his flat was raided again and further phones and tablets were seized, as well as £1,395 in cash.
Police were able to access those phones and further messages relating to drug supply between Adams and Cable were discovered, including 32 voice notes.
Cable was supplying Adams with ketamine and Adams was supplying
Cable with cocaine, between May 2022 and May 2023.
Adams’ phone also contained a photograph of cocaine on scales, weighing 13.5g, while messages related to the supply of cannabis and various cannabis products.
On March 3 last year, Evans was arrested at his property in Fochriw, Caerphilly, in relation to an unconnected matter and was found in possession of £1,215 in cash, an iPhone and a package of 10g of herbal cannabis. Examination of the iPhone provided evidence of cannabis supply, with one customer requesting half a kilo of the drug.
In July last year, Evans was seen travelling in a stolen car in Brynmawr, which was later found abandoned following a collision. A phone was taken from that car as well as two bags containing 13.3g of cocaine and 11g of crack cocaine, with a value of just under £2,000.
In August, a computer was seized during an arrest, on which messages were found to Cable relating to the supply of drugs for onward supply. A further raid took place at Cable’s address in Brynmawr, and he told police he was in possession of drugs.
Adams, of Heol Pencarreg, Bargoed, pleaded guilty to two counts of being concerned in the supply of cocaine, two counts of being concerned in the supply of cannabis, being concerned in the supply of ketamine, and possession of criminal property. He was sentenced to a total of 45 months’ detention in a young offender institution.
Evans, of Coronation Crescent, Fochriw, Caerphilly, pleaded guilty to three counts of being concerned in the supply of cocaine, being concerned in the supply of cannabis, possession with intent to supply cannabis and possession of criminal property. He was sentenced to 45 months’ imprisonment.
Cable, of Clydach Street, Brynmawr, pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of cocaine and ketamine, and possession with intent to supply cocaine. He was sentenced to 34 months’ imprisonment.
Thomas, of Heol Pencarreg, Bargoed, pleaded guilty to two counts of being concerned in the supply of cannabis. He was sentenced to nine months’ imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, and was ordered to carry out a 10-day rehabilitation activity requirement and 120 hours of unpaid work.