Operation Tredegar relates to a large-scale family run Conspiracy to Supply Class A drugs, namely cocaine, by an Organised Crime Group (OCG) headed by brothers Thomas Davies, 38, and Jack Davies, 37, based in the Rhondda valleys. This case features nine defendants, all with a varying role within the OCG from couriers to money launderers.
The further six members of the OCG hae been sentenced to 37 years and 10 months at Newport Crown Court.
- Thomas Davies arranged the purchase of multi kilogram amounts of cocaine from several different sources which were then driven to South Wales by couriers at his request. These drugs were then cut down into lower purity cocaine and sold on in varying amounts from kilograms to grams.
- Thomas and Jack’s parents – Jacqueline Davies, 59, and Byron Davies, 66, had pivotal roles in laundering large amounts of criminal money for their sons. Over £57,000 cash was seized from a safe found within Bryon Davies property.
- Thomas’s partner Nicole Locke, 31, acted as a street dealer for the OCG, dealing with the day to day “gram” customers. Nicole also turned the cocaine in to crack cocaine with a process called “washing”.
- Christopher Adams, 39, Scott Alway, 35, and Steven Evans, 38, all acted as couriers for this OCG, traveling across the country to pick up multi kilogram amounts of cocaine for onward sale within the South Wales area. When Steven Evans was arrested officers discovered £23,000 cash in a safe and enquiries revealed he also had over £50,000 unexplained cash within his bank accounts.
- Gavin Etchell,42, also acted as a courier prior to his arrest in July 2020 however he was also a high-level street dealer, supplying “ounce” amounts of cocaine to local street dealers.
Thomas Davies, 38, from Buckley Road, Trealaw, Tonypandy
- Conspiracy to supply cocaine – 16 years.
- Conspiracy to supply crack cocaine – 8 years to run concurrently.
- Enter into/ become concerned in an arrangement to facilitate acquisition or control of criminal property (Setting up a shell company – Valley Self Storage to launder the proceeds) – 2 years concurrent.
Jack Davies, 37, from Buckley Road, Trealaw, Tonypandy
- Conspiracy to supply cocaine – 13 years 7 months.
- Conspiracy to supply crack cocaine – 6 years to run concurrently.
- Enter into/ become concerned in an arrangement to facilitate acquisition or control of criminal property (Setting up a shell company – Valley Self Storage to launder the proceeds) – 2 years concurrent.
Nicole Caroline Locke, 31, from Pergwm Street, Trealaw, Tonypandy
- Conspiracy to supply cocaine – 2 years suspended for 2 years.
- Conspiracy to supply crack cocaine – 2 years suspended for 2 years.
On July 23, 2020, Gavin Etchell was stopped by police on the A40 Trunk Road, Monmouth, driving his BMW. He was arrested for a separate matter however his two mobile phones were seized and subsequently downloaded. From the data located within these phones it was apparent he was supplying cocaine on behalf of someone later identified as Thomas Davies.
On February 9, 2021, officers executed a number of search warrants targeting the Davies brothers. Over 2 kilograms of cocaine were recovered, along with 50 kilograms of cutting agent, 2 hydraulic drug presses and electric mixing blenders. All were located in a man-made drugs factory, set up in the garage at the rear of a property on Partridge Road, Trealaw. The garage was being rented by Thomas and Jack for £50 per month which was facilitated by their father Byron Davies.
Jacqueline Davies, 59, from Buckley Road, Trealaw, Tonypandy – 2 years
- Concerned in the offer to supply cocaine –
- Enter into/become concerned in an arrangement to facilitate acquisition or control of criminal property – XX years imprisonment concurrent.
Byron Davies, 66, from Heol Trecastell, Caerphilly – 1 year 7 months suspended for 2 years.
- Enter into/become concerned in an arrangement to facilitate acquisition or control of criminal property (Setting up a shell company – Valley Self Storage to launder proceeds –
Scott Headley Alway, 35, from Heather Close, Trealaw, Tonypandy
- Conspiracy to supply cocaine – 9 years.
Steven John Evans, 38, from Trealaw Road, Trealaw, Tonypandy
- Conspiracy to supply cocaine – 8 years 9 months.
- Possession of criminal property – 1 year to run concurrently.
Gavin Hayward Etchell, 42, currently in HMP Parc – 8 years
- Conspiracy to supply cocaine.
- Failure to comply with a Serious Crime Prevention Order
Christopher Adams, 39, from Kenry Street, Tonypandy
- Conspiracy to supply cocaine – 8 years 6 months.
This brings the total sentencing for all nine OCG members to 71 years and 5 months as a result of Op Tredegar.
Detective Constable Lewis Watkins said: “All nine involved were key figures in this drug supply chain and I am thrilled that we have been able to sentence them for their crimes and remove them from our communities.
“The sentences passed down sends a strong message that drugs and organised crime groups have no place in our communities. Not only have we been able to disrupt this OCG and their operation, but we have also been able to take a large quantity of drugs off the streets.
“South Wales Police is committed to protecting our communities and the success of this operation shows that we will use all necessary tactics to target organised crime groups and those participating in corruption, fraud, and money laundering.”
