A gang which dealt up to £5m worth of drugs in a substantial commercial operation were discovered after their encrypted chats were cracked by police. The group also bought firearms as part of the enterprise which saw them trafficking class A drugs into south Wales.
The group was led by Kuldip Singh Dhillon, of Cardiff, and his lieutenant Jay Abdul, of Barry, who enlisted other members including romantic partners to facilitate the purchase and supply of drugs including cocaine, heroin, amphetamine and cannabis. A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Monday heard the authorities accessed Encrochat devices used by the dealers and revealed conversations between June 6 and 12, 2020, relating to the conspiracy which lasted 13 months.
While Dhillon and Abdul, 39, led the group, Ryan Hales, 28, played a senior organisational role and was entrusted with the Enchrochat device. Marc Harris, 31, was not a member of the group but was a regular customer and sold cocaine by the kilo with the assistance of his partner Naisha Hembury, 35.
