Valleys crime boss is jailed after £1m cash and drugs is seized

A crime gang responsible for the biggest ever cash seizure in Wales have been jailed.

The head of the crime group was Michael Martin from Bargoed in the Rhymney Valley who utilised his underworld contacts across the UK to form a drug empire, says South Wales Police.

During the course of the investigation an address in Ystrad, Rhondda was searched which led to the recovery of £1.2 million in cash, along with a sawn off shotgun, cartridges and a cheetah Stun Gun.

This cash seizure was the biggest in Welsh criminal history.

Police say the cash found was the biggest ever in Wales. Credit: South Wales Police

In addition drugs were found; 88kg’s of Amphetamine and almost 200kg of cannabis.

Police also found amphetamine drugs. Credit: South Wales Police

Following the trial 22 defendants were sentenced for a variety of drug supplying offences.

They formed part of a wider crime group from the Merseyside, Manchester, South Wales and Essex areas.

Credit: South Wales Police

Operation Hallett, which was managed by TARIAN, the Welsh Regional Organised Crime Unit, was a two-year investigation involving covert policing techniques.

  • Michael Andrew MARTIN 05/11/1965 (Bargoed) 14 years

  • Greg DAVIES 18/05/1972 (Bargoed) 5yrs 6 months

  • Robert Lindsay STOOK 10/02/1982 (Oakdale) 4yrs 8 months

  • Joanne Marie SMITH 15/08/1983 (Bargoed) 22 months

  • Paul Douglas BERRY 28/08/1969 (Manchester) 8yrs

  • Stephen Sidney REEVES 02/09/1967 (Manchester) 7yrs

  • Terence EARLE 06/04/1974 (Liverpool) 3yrs

  • Michael EARLE 13/11/1975 (Liverpool) 3yrs

  • Tony Murphy 13/12/72 (Manchester) 2yrs

  • Alan David MEGANN 25/05/1962 (Liverpool) 27 months

  • Gerard WORTH 08/02/1962 (Liverpool) 6 yrs

  • Michael KEARNS 08/02/1962 (Manchester) 2yrs 6 months

  • Michael SLADE 09/05/196 (Essex) 8yrs

  • Danny HICKS14/04/1980 (Essex) 3yrs 6 months

  • Gerald Carl JONES 13/06/65 (Merthyr) 2yrs 4 months

  • Andrew Ronald THOMAS 01/11/1976 (Risca) 5yrs 6 months

  • Terry CORSE 19/09/81 (Neath) 2yrs

  • Darren EDWARDS 07/03/67 (Neath) 2yrs

  • Neil MORGAN 19/03/64 (Neath) 26 months

  • Richard John EDWARDS 31/03/1968 (Neath) 5yrs

  • Daniel TAYLOR 18/04/81 (Neath) 2yrs 8 months

  • Leyton Corry 28/2/68 2ys 8 months

  • Julian LEAVER-THOMAS 12/07/79 (Abertillery) 3yrs 4 months