Drugs gang jailed for 30 years over £1.7m cannabis smuggling plot

All pleaded guilty to their part in an international drug smuggling operation and were sentenced today at Newport Crown Court. Today’s sentences follows the sentencing of the gang leader, Keith Dobson, who was given a six year sentence at Newport Crown Court on February 1st, for arranging the importation of the drugs into the UK. Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Chief Inspector Paul Hurley, said: “We’ve dismantled a sophisticated and organised group who tried to flood Valleys communities with illegal drugs. “They were organised, but fell prey to some excellent investigative work which included the latest techniques and spanned a number of different agencies from as far away as Spain, where the drugs were initially discovered. "I hope this sends a message out to other would-be drug importers and dealers that South Wales is not an easy target," he added. Ryan Davies, known locally as 'Mamsy', received the most significant sentence of six years for his part as key co-ordinator of the operation in South Wales. A detailed and complex investigation by a team of detectives led by Detective Sergeant Joe Sweeney identified Davies at the centre of the operation. He was implicated through some excellent police work following the arrest of his friend Christian O’Reilly, who on March 12th was apprehended by officers as a covert surveillance operation came to an end. Officers pounced on O'Reilly as he was putting petrol in his car. This was only moments after O’Reilly first realised something had gone horribly wrong with their plan. The story actually begins eight days earlier on March 4th 2011 in Barcelona, where Spanish customs officials seized 413kg of cannabis resin hidden in sandstone pillars destined for the UK. The dugs were taken out and authorities allowed the consignment onwards to its destination. The Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) worked with the police to track the consignment as it headed to an unlikely barn, on a farm off Cefn Pennar Road, Mountain Ash. This was where members of the group first realised the pillars used to smuggle the drugs were empty. Moments later, the first arrests were made. Three people - including Christian O'Reilly - were arrested as they left the farm. All their mobile phones were seized which proved important for the investigation. An investigation by South Wales Police was then launched. What followed was a complex hi-tech 12 month inquiry which, bit by bit, pieced together the whole criminal network from the drug runners and local dealers in Rhondda, to the organised London-based gang leaders. Keith Dobson even went so far as to use a fake building company - complete with virtual office - in an attempt to fool authorities. DCI Paul Hurley said: “Community intelligence tells us that the impact the arrests had on drug supply to the community was profound. The community now have an important part to play in providing intelligence about others who may view this as an opportunity to muscle in on the area. “We have a team now who will be working hard to chase any assets owned by members of the group which are believed to be funded by the proceeds of their crimes. This’ll ensure crime doesn’t pay,” he added. All those charged with offences pleaded guilty to their involvement in the operation. The following men pleaded guilty to their parts in arranging the importation of large quantities of cannabis resin into the UK: - Keith Dobson arranged the importation of the drugs and paid for their release from the shipping agents in London;-  - Barry Roy Butler collected the drugs and drove them, hidden in the cargo, to South Wales in a hired lorry; - Mark Joseph Waugh was entrusted to meet Mr. Butler and stay with the drugs overnight;-  - Christian O’Reilly was a large scale dealer who also organised a safe destination for the cargo to be unloaded; These individuals all pleaded guilty to their part in the south Wales side of the scheme: - Ryan Davies was the controller of the operation in South Wales. He arranged the delivery of the consignment, met the lorry himself and arranged local men to provide a safe place for delivery. He was the “wholesale” supplier in the case, and made the arrangements using a mobile phone that he kept for the purpose-