A recent court case in Wales unveiled the shocking details of a drug dealer, 58-year-old Tracey Crew, who stored a substantial amount of cocaine in a fake soup tin inside her house. The police discovered cocaine valued at over £6,000 and a detailed “invoice book” of customers during a search of Crew’s residence. The court heard that despite being on a suspended sentence for cannabis dealing, Crew ventured into the distribution of Class A drugs. Her lawyer explained that her involvement in drug supply was primarily to support her own drug habits.
The prosecution, represented by Caitlin Brazel, narrated that on November 29, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Crew’s property in Port Talbot under the Misuse of Drugs Act. Upon their arrival, Crew promptly directed them to a carrier bag containing cocaine. Subsequent searches uncovered a total of 122g of cocaine, stashed in various bags of different weights, including some concealed within a mock soup can. The accumulated cocaine was estimated to be worth up to £6,200. Additionally, authorities seized an “invoice book” containing lists of names and outstanding sums, accompanied by bundles of over £7,500 in cash, some individually wrapped in cling film.
Further investigations in an upper bedroom revealed three cannabis plants undergoing cultivation, along with the discovery of 1g of cannabis in another room. Tracey Crew, residing on Ysgythan Road, Port Talbot, had previously pleaded guilty to charges of possessing cocaine with intent to supply, possession of criminal proceeds (cash), cultivating cannabis, and mere possession of cannabis before her sentencing. With a history of six past convictions for nine offenses, Crew’s criminal record included permitting premises for cannabis distribution in 2018 and offenses related to cannabis supply in December 2023, resulting in a suspended sentence.
During the trial, Crew’s defense attorney, Andrew Evans, emphasised her motive for drug dealing as a means to sustain her drug dependencies. Acknowledging the confiscation of cocaine from her premises, Evans mentioned that Crew would confront the repercussions of losing drugs that belonged to others upon her release from custody. Judge Geraint Walters imposed a three-year custodial sentence on Crew for the cocaine supply offense, coupled with six months for each charge of possessing criminal property and cultivating cannabis, to run concurrently. An additional 12 months from a previous 16-month suspended sentence was activated to extend her total prison term to four years.
Crew’s anticipated release on license after serving half of the four-year sentence further encapsulated the judicial consequences of her drug-related activities. The case highlighted the severity of drug trafficking and its impact on individuals and communities, showcasing the legal system’s commitment to addressing such criminal conduct. The revelations from Tracey Crew’s case serve as a poignant reminder of the ongoing battle against drug-related offenses and the measures in place to combat illicit activities within society.