Cardiff gang of seven jailed after £500,000 heroin raid
A group of seven have been jailed for conspiring to supply heroin in the South Wales area.
They were convicted as part of Operation Mojave, an investigation targeting the supply of drugs in South Wales by locally based organised crime groups.
Police officers carried out a warrant at a property in Cardiff on Friday, March 1, 2013 and seized Class 'A' drugs thought to have a street-value of around £520,000. £73,000 in cash was also seized.
The seven defendants all pleaded guilty to the offences and were sentenced at Cardiff Crown Court today to the following:
Joseph Thomas, aged 31, from Butetown,Cardiff - 9 years
David Cook, aged 30, from Grangetown, Cardiff - 8 years
Joel Harris, aged 27, from Ely, Cardiff - 6 years
Anthony Watson, aged 25, from Pentwyn, Cardiff - 6 years
Damien Farrugia, aged 34, from Fairwater, Cardiff - 5 years
Elisha Mutsange, aged 23, from Roath, Cardiff - 3 years
David Hale, aged 23, from Ely, Cardiff - 40 months
Two further defendants will be sentenced at a later date.
All seven defendants will have to serve at least half of their sentences before being released on conditional licence.