Police patrol village after historic LSD stash claim
PATROLS have been set up by police in a mid Wales village 40 years after a retired detective claimed criminals buried a major stash of LSD in woodland more than four decades ago.
Amid concerns that people may try to dig up the Class A drug, Dyfed-Powys Police has confirmed it will be providing increased patrols in Carno, Powys.
The Plas Llysyn mansion in Carno played an integral part in British LSD production in the 1970s and was the base of an operation which supplied an estimated 90% of LSD then being used in the UK.
The drugs ring was smashed in the famous “Operation Julie” case. But one of the detectives involved in the investigation has now claimed that a stash of LSD in Carno may not yet have been found.
A Dyfed-Powys Police spokeswoman said: “Dyfed-Powys Police are aware of the issues and are assessing the content of the disclosure. We will be checking the records we hold to establish whether or not matters raised warrant further investigation.
“In the meantime we will be making the current owners of Plas Llysyn aware of the disclosure and the potential for persons to visit the area in an attempt to locate the drugs. We will be providing them with reassurance through increased patrols.
“We would also like to make it clear Dyfed-Powys Police take a robust approach to drug trafficking and that appropriate action will be taken in respect of anyone suspected of using the information disclosed to assist them in obtaining and supplying controlled drugs.”
Speaking to the Guardian, former officer and author of Undercover: Operation Julie – The Inside Story Stephen Bentley said a gang member told him that LSD had been buried in woodland near Plas Llysyn.
He said: “That stash is almost certainly still there.”
Operation Julie came into being following a car crash in Machynlleth involving chemist Richard Kemp, who was known to the police as being involved in the drugs trade.
Searches of his car found pieces of paper revealing a key ingredient in the manufacture of LSD.
The operation was set in Brecon in February 1976 and involved a number of chief constables and senior drug squad officers from a number of forces.
In May 1976 a police team moved into a farmhouse in Bronwydd, overlooking Kemp’s cottage, with locals initially believing them to be bird-watchers. Female officers were later added to the operation, which took its name from police Sergeant Julie Taylor.
It was discovered that Kemp was making 50-mile trips from his home in Tregaron to Plas Llysyn, owned by American Paul Joseph Arnaboldi.
The mansion was watched by police from an old caravan and officers were ordered to break in and take water samples, which matched LSD samples.
On March 26, 1977, officers raided 87 homes in England and Wales and 120 suspects were arrested.
At Kemp’s home a package containing £11,000, LSD crystals and tableting equipment were found, and in Carno laboratory equipment was dug out of a well.
On December 1, 1977, officers searched Kemp’s home again and discovered a large plastic box containing 1.3kg of LSD crystal, enough to make 6.5 million doses.
In 1978, 15 defendants appeared at Bristol Crown Court where they received a combined total of 120 years’ in prison. It is believed 90% of LSD was removed from the British market.