Police officers recently made a significant bust when they caught a crime gang in the middle of a meeting, surrounded by 23 kilos of cannabis and over £62,000 in cash. During the operation at a garage in Llanelli town centre, one of the gang members taunted the officers, claiming it had taken them five years to catch him and boasting about making more money than them. The ringleader and his trusted “lieutenant” were amongst the three gang members sentenced to prison at Swansea Crown Court. A proceeds of crime investigation will be initiated to scrutinize the defendants’ finances, and the prosecution plans to file a serious crime prevention order against the gang leader to monitor his conduct post-release.
The court heard that the bust took place in July last year as part of Operation Aldwych, an investigation by Tarian – the serious and organised crime squad in southern Wales, into a conspiracy involving the distribution of cocaine and cannabis. Surveillance on a garage revealed suspected gang members arriving in different vehicles, with the gang leader, Aaron Richards, arriving in an Audi R8. As officers observed, bundles resembling sleeping bags were removed from a van, and communication between gang members on mobile phones was noted. Shortly after, the undercover cops raided the garage and discovered the defendants with bundles of cash and vacuum-sealed packages of cannabis.
Richards, displaying erratic behaviour, attempted to flee and had to be restrained by an officer. During his arrest, he provocatively mentioned to the police that it had taken them five years to catch him and boasted about his earnings, claiming he would still make more money even while in prison. The stack of cash found on the garage floor amounted to over £62,000, with 23kg of cannabis seized from the lock-up and vehicles outside, valued at up to £230,000. A search of Bartlett’s property revealed cannabis edibles, weighing scales, and other drug paraphernalia, while Diaz was found with a cannabis cultivation setup and cocaine in his possession.
The prosecution argued that Richards was the head of the operation, with Bartlett serving as a key member, described as Richards’ right-hand man. The defendants, including Giddy, who also played a role in the operation, pleaded guilty to various charges related to drug possession, supply, and criminal property. Despite a history of drug-related convictions and community orders, the defendants expressed remorse and acceptance of their impending sentences in court.
In sentencing, Richards received 53 months in prison, Diaz 54 months, and Bartlett 22 months, with the possibility of early release on licence. Giddy was handed a 10-month suspended sentence, along with mandatory rehabilitation and mental health treatment. The judge refrained from lecturing the defendants on the repercussions of drug dealing, focusing on their guilty pleas and the penalties imposed. The case serves as a reminder of the ongoing efforts by law enforcement to combat organised crime and drug trafficking in the region, emphasizing the severe consequences for those involved in such illegal activities.