Drugs with a street value of £7.4 million seized by police

Two members of an Organised Crime Group have been sent to prison for conspiracy to supply cocaine and possession with intent to supply cocaine.

Juniad Khan, 32 and Calum Mason, 24, both from Cardiff, were arrested by detectives from Tarian, the Regional Organised Crime Unit for southern Wales, following an intelligence led operation in August 2022 when a combined total of 27 kilograms of cocaine was seized, with an estimated street value of £2.7 million and 2.7 kilograms of cannabis with an estimated street value of £27,560.00, was also seized from Mason’s home address.

As a result of messages recovered from the examination of a mobile phone seized from Khan, sent and received using an encrypted app, evidence was obtained of a Conspiracy to Supply Cocaine between the May and the August, 2022, involving a further 47 kilograms of Cocaine with an estimated street value of £4.7 million.

Detective Inspector Sion Parker said: “Tarian is committed in protecting the communities of southern Wales from serious and organised crime.

“The success of this operation, which has taken an estimated £7.4 million of drugs from the streets, demonstrates our relentless pursuit Organised Crime Groups whose activities afflict our communities and, in particular, those most vulnerable.

“Illegal drugs bring misery and harm to our communities and have no place in society. We will continue to work together with other police forces and partner agencies to bring to justice those whose criminal activities blight the lives of neighbourhoods in south Wales.

“I hope that this sentence serves as a message that we are committed to disrupting and dismantling organised crime groups, and we will do all we can to remove drugs from the streets.”

Such was the weight of evidence presented that both men entered guilty pleas and at Cardiff Crown Court this week Juniad Khan was sent to prison for 14 years and Calum Mason for 12 years.

Anyone who has information about the supply of drugs in the community should call the police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.  In an emergency call 999.