A criminal network that organised the transportation of drugs from Merseyside into Newtown and other parts of Powys has been sentenced imprisonment at Swansea Crown Court today.
Substantial quantities of heroin and crack cocaine estimated to have a potential street value of over £1.1 million were brought from Liverpool to properties in Newtown and Llandrindod Wells where the drugs would then be dealt to users.
Several Newtown people were jailed as part of the County Lines case. Names of the individuals jailed will follow.
The gang used cars and the rail network to vary how the drugs were brought in to Powys, sometimes hiding the packages internally. When a new shipment was arriving, they would “bulk text” drug users in the Powys area informing them what drugs were available to purchase.
A two year investigation by Dyfed Powys Police and other police forces, between August 2016 and August 2018, resulted in the twenty defendants pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply the drugs.
Nicola Rees of the CPS said: “Bringing these criminals to justice was a major step in disrupting the flow of drugs into mid-Wales.
“These drugs can destroy families and have a huge detrimental impact on the community.”
“The CPS worked with law enforcement agencies from an early stage in the investigation providing advice to build a strong case against each of the individuals involved.”