An organised crime group (OCG) modified cars to smuggle large amounts of drugs from Merseyside into Wrexham.
The movements of those suspected to be involved in the drug supply chain were closely monitored by North Wales Police for seven months from July 2021 to February 2022 as part of Operation Blue Cashel. A number of raids were carried out across North Wales and Merseyside in February last year which led to a significant recovery of drugs and cash.
In total more than 18kg of cocaine, more than 19kg of amphetamine, and 885 grams of cannabis was seized as part of the operation - a total estimated street value of around £2m. The OCG operation modified cars with sophisticated electronic hides in the floor pan to transport the drugs into the North Wales town.
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Police seized three cars in total and one was found to be carrying a kilogram of cocaine. More than £70,000 in cash was also recovered as part of the operation, including £30,000 in another of the modified cars.
During one of the 15 raids carried out by police, a ledger recovered from one of the properties noted a monthly turnover of £1.2m. Another ledger recovered from one of the seized vehicles noted that between July 2021 and February 2022, more than £4.8m worth of drugs had been sold by the gang.
Caernarfon Crown Court heard this week how the 11 defendants pleaded guilty to their roles in the OCG. Among them was the gang's leader Nathan John Barnes, 33, of Heol Y Bryn, Garden Village, Wrexham, who was jailed for 10 years for conspiring to supply class A and B drugs. His "second in command" was Mark Shaun Armstrong, 31, of Deva Way, Queens Park, Wrexham, who was also jailed for 10 years for conspiring to supply class A and B drugs.
A judge condemned a third man, Daniel Lee Williams, 35, of Kenyon Avenue, Wrexham, for encouraging his 66-year-old mum Gillian Williams to hide the drugs in her house. NorthWalesLive reported Liverpool man Joshua Daniel Brizell, 31, of Faversham Road, Walton, was intercepted by police when travelling from Liverpool to North Wales.
Officers searched his car and found about £36,500 in cash in a shoebox. Two cheap, burner phones were also discovered with postcode searches for addresses relating to Barnes and Armstrong. Barnes' fingerprint was also found.
Eight people were sentenced in Welsh courts this week, with more set for a later date. The following people were sentenced -
- Nathan Barnes, 33, of Heol y Bryn, Garden Village, Wrexham - Conspiracy to supply Class A and Class B drugs, ten years.
- Mark Armstrong, 31, of Deva Way, Caia Park, Wrexham – Conspiracy to supply Class A and Class B drugs, ten years.
Joshua Brizell, 31, of Faversham Road, Liverpool – Conspiracy to supply Class A and Class B drugs, seven years and seven months.
Colin Fear, 59, of Preston Road, Chorley – Conspiracy to supply Class A and Class B drugs, six years and nine months.
Daniel Williams, 35, of Kenyon Avenue, Wrexham – Conspiracy to supply Class A and Class B drugs, seven years and six months.
Jackie Roberts, 62, of Fron Goch, Ruabon, Wrexham - Conspiracy to supply Class B drugs, three years and four months.
Stephen Dean Williams, 36, of Fenwick Drive, Wrexham – Conspiracy to supply Class B drugs, two years and three months.
Gillian Williams, 66, of Valley Court, Brynteg, Wrexham – Perverting the course of justice, 16 months, suspended for 18 months. She was also ordered to carry out 20 days of offender rehabilitation and 100 hours of unpaid work.
Detective Inspector Mark Hughes, the senior investigating officer, said: "The quantity of drugs seized from this sophisticated gang as part of Operation Blue Cashel was one of the largest hauls ever recovered in North Wales. A good deal of planning and organisation went into the operation, and the rewards for the gang were clearly very high.
"Today’s result is a testament to the hard work and dedication of all the officers involved and sends a strong message that we do not tolerate drug dealing in our communities – and those who see North Wales as an easy target to supply drugs will be thwarted. We remain committed to tackling this crime, that has such a detrimental effect on people’s lives, and we will relentlessly pursue anyone who breaks the law and exploits vulnerable people for their own gain.
"We will continue to strive to make North Wales the safest place to live, work and visit in the UK."
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