70 years in jail for drugs gang
Organised operation is smashed by police
POLICE have smashed an organised criminal gang that was supplying heroin on the streets of Llanelli.
Seventeen people have been locked up and another four given suspended prison sentences as a result of Operation Cryptic.
The eight-month long Dyfed-Powys Police operation targeted those involved in the sourcing, trafficking, storage, preparation and dealing of the Class A drug.
The final member of the gang was sentenced at Swansea Crown Court this week.
POLICE have smashed an organised criminal gang that was supplying heroin on the streets of Llanelli.
Seventeen people have been locked up and another four given suspended prison sentences as a result of Operation Cryptic.
The eight-month long Dyfed-Powys Police operation targeted those involved in the sourcing, trafficking, storage, preparation and dealing of the Class A drug.
The final member of the gang was sentenced at Swansea Crown Court yesterday, bringing to an end months of sentences linked to the case. The names and full network of dealers can now be revealed.
Ben Caulfield, 25, from Severn Road, Clase, Swansea was sentenced to 10 years; Bridgette Williams, 55, from Old Lodge, Llanelli was sentenced to eight years; Zain Thomas, 19, from Birmingham was sentenced to 60 months, Jade Williams, 35, from Old Lodge, Llanelli was sentenced to eight years; George Hawkins, 29, from Maengwynne, Llanelli was sentenced to 40 months; Janice Hawkins, 65, from Maengwynne, Llanelli was sentenced to 36 months; Debbie Wood, 35, from Ty Elizabeth, Llanelli was sentenced to four years; James Mochan, 48, from Elizabeth Street, Llanelli was sentenced to four years; Lee John, 26, from Prendergast Street, Llanelli was sentenced to 40 months; Christopher Daniel Morris, 37, from Myrtle Terrace, Llanelli, was sentenced to 40 months, Stacey Charles, 27, from Corporation Avenue, Llanelli was sentenced to 28 months; Carwyn Bignell, 37, from Prospect Place, Llanelli was sentenced to 40 months plus two months concurrent for possession of a bladed article; Emily Jones, 23, from New Dock Road, Llanelli was sentenced to 28 months; Jeremy Pegler, 41, from Station Road, Llanelli was sentenced to 40 months; John Paul Began, 54, from Severn Road, Clase, Swansea was sentenced to sixand-a-half years; Eugene Brannigan, 24, from Birmingham was sentenced to 41 months; and Daniel Croft, 32, who was produced from prison, was sentenced to nine months.
Allica Evans, 32, from Great Western Crescent, Llanelli, was given 24 months suspended for 18 months; Kelly Marie Evans, 31, from Caeglas, Llanelli got 20 months suspended for 18 months; Kelly Roberts, 39, from Severn Road, Clase, Swansea got six months suspended for 18 months; and Wayne Jenkins, 35, from Upper William Street, Llanelli also got a suspended sentence.
Dyfed-Powys Police chief inspector Richard Hopkin welcomed the sentences, saying drugs brought misery to families and communities.
He said: “Today marks the successful outcome of Operation Cryptic after these 21 defendants have been sentenced to more than 70 years in prison collectively.
“This means that we have successfully disrupted a series of widespread and far reaching conspiracies to supply and distribute vast amounts of drugs in the Llanelli area.
“We hope that this sends a clear message to those involved in supplying and distributing drugs – there is nowhere to hide, and we will take robust action.
“We are determined to continue to ensure the Dyfed-Powys Police area remains a hostile environment for those involved in the misuse of drugs.
“Drugs will not be tolerated, and anyone concerned in it will be brought to justice for the harm caused to individuals, families and our communities.”