Seven men and one woman have been sentenced following an investigation into a number of key players in illegal drugs supply, and the organised thefts of vehicles and related fraud, in Swansea and Neath Port Talbot.
Under Operation Eagle, an enforcement week took place last year wherein drugs, cash, mobile phones, vehicles and other items were seized from the suspects.
In total, £2,799 in cash was seized, in addition to precious metals (gold and platinum) with an estimated value of £5,100.
A significant quantity of drugs – including 360 grams of heroin, around 250 grams of suspected ketamine and quantities of cocaine, cannabis and tablets – was also seized seized, as were packaging and other drug paraphernalia.
33-year-old Sean McCabe, from Townhill, pleaded guilty to conspiring to steal a motor vehicle, conspiracy to defraud, conspiring together with others to be concerned in the supply of cocaine and conspiring to supply cannabis. He has been sentenced to 11 years and six months in prison.
41-year-old Michael Brain, from Waunarlwydd, Swansea, pleaded guilty to conspiring to steal a motor vehicle, conspiracy to defraud, possession with intent to supply cocaine, heroin and ketamine and conspiring to supply cocaine. He has been sentenced to five years and six months in prison.
33-year-old Joshua Pope, from Morriston, Swansea, pleaded guilty to conspiring to steal a motor vehicle and conspiring to commit fraud by false representation, and has been sentenced to five years in prison.
36-year-old Daniel Bryant, from Waun Wen, Swansea, pleaded guilty to conspiring to steal a motor vehicle and being concerned in the supply of cocaine and cannabis. He has been sentenced to four years and five months in prison.
29-year-old Jake Thomas, from Blaenymaes, pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of heroin, ketamine, cocaine and cannabis, as well as conspiring to steal a motor vehicle. He has been sentenced to four years and three months in prison.
27-year-old Steffan Hopkins, from Swansea city centre, pleaded guilty to conspiring to supply cannabis and possession of cannabis. He has been sentenced to 14 months in prison.
31-year-old Lindsey Martin, from Townhill, Swansea, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud and has been sentenced to 12 months in prison, suspended for 12 months.
24-year-old Mumen Khan, from Bridgend, pleaded guilty to conspiring to steal a motor vehicle, and has been sentenced to 22 months in prison, suspended for two years.
Detective Inspector Richard George said:
“This has been an excellent investigation made possibly by the exemplary teamwork between officers in Swansea and further afield, with support from Multi-Agency Response to Serious Organised Crime (MARSOC), the Digital Forensics Unit (DFU), the Joint Forensic Unit (JFU) and the Territorial Support Team (TST), just to name a few.
“Tribute must also be paid to the work of the Serious Organised Crime Investigation Teams and Intelligence Unit.
“The thefts of these vehicles had a marked impact on the vehicles’ owners; not just in terms of the immediate cost, but also in the impact on their work, cost of replacement trave/vehicles and their insurance premiums.”
Chief Superintendent Stephen Jones said:
“This operation saw the investigating team work extremely hard, long hours to achieve these fantastic results, recovering drugs and outstanding stolen property and removing them from criminal circulation.
“The arrests and sentences represent a huge dent in the pockets of criminals. Ultimately, this investigation has protected the public and safeguarded our community.
“It will also have an impact of reducing front line demand for response and neighbourhood officers.”
