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Sentencing begins in Dyfed-Powys Police’s biggest ever drugs op

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coke-gangA JUDGE has begun to sentence cocaine suppliers after the biggest drugs operations ever carried out by Dyfed-Powys police.

The first four defendants were today jailed for a total of 36 years and a further 15 will be sentenced before Friday.

At least four police officers are expected to be commended for “very impressive, intelligent, carefully directed work.”

Swansea Crown Court heard how gangs in Milford Haven and Swansea linked up with even larger gangs in Liverpool and Manchester to flood the areas with cocaine.

Detectives from west Wales then found themselves investigating a third conspiracy in Scotland.

By the time arrests had finished the gang had run £18.5m worth of cocaine into the south Wales valleys, £67,520 of cocaine into Milford Haven and £286,000 of cocaine and cannabis into Scotland.

Andrew Jones, prosecuting, explained how officers launched Operation Phobos to identify those supplying and selling cocaine from Clydach and later Llanelli.

Ian Michael Edwards, aged 30, was identified as the head of the Liverpool team supplying a gang led by Matthew Roberts, who used “sophisticated” techniques to evade detection.

But police managed to insert a listening probe at a property in Vera Road, Clydach, and incriminating information began flowing in.

Soon the same force launched Operation Pigeon when it became clear that Edwards and others were also supplying Leigh Salter, described in court as the head of an organised crime gang in Milford Haven. Salter was jailed in June for five years and four months.

A third operation was later started when evidence emerged of Edwards sending cocaine and cannabis to Aberdeen.

All three investigations were handled by Dyfed Powys.

Mr Jones said the conspiracies were widespread and far reaching and involved gangs that were sophisticated and organised.

Members used cheap, throw-away mobile telephones and regularly changed vehicles to confuse police.

Couriers had cover stories and sometimes took along their pet dogs or children while delivering drugs to make it look like they were just out for the day.

Mr Jones said the amounts of money involved were vast—one gang member drove around in an £80,000 Mercedes and bought a £250,000 boat using his bank debit card.

When Edwards was arrested he had £24,000 in cash—but an examination of his mobile showed a photograph of £100,000 in used notes inside a kitchen cupboard.

Edwards, of Abbotts Close, Liverpool, was jailed for 14 years. His right hand man in Liverpool, who cannot be named at this stage, received 10 years and a courier seven years.

Roberts’ sister Emma, aged 34, was jailed for five and a half years. She allowed cocaine to be stored at her home in Clos Burlais, Cwmdu, Swansea.

They had all admitted conspiring to supply cocaine between November 2014 and November 2015.

Judge Thomas told them, “You knew the gamble you were taking. You had to weigh up the advantages and set them against what would happen if you were caught.

“You decided it was a risk worth taking to make a lot of money. You thought your profit was worth the misery that drugs would bring to others.”

Judge Thomas described Edwards as a career criminal.

He said he would deal with police commendations at the end of the sentencing hearings.

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Rugby Weekly – Tenby’s promotion push continues

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It’s crunch time for all rugby clubs around the county, whether promotion is their aim or fighting relegation or even just trying to improve their league position, it’s now or never. 

Last weekend saw an important win for Fishguard in division two west which should put any relegation fears to bed completely. James Griffiths added an impressive 18 points for the Seagulls as they defeated Nantgaredig 33-19. 

Elsewhere in the second division, Milford were beaten 32-8 by a good Lampeter outfit. The Mariners are still a little too close for comfort with the drop zone but should have enough quality to see them safe. 

At the other end of the table Tenby sit in second place and have played fewer games than leaders St Clears and third place Lampeter. They won impressively again last weekend, beating Pontyberem 64-19 at Haywood Lane. Fletcher Broadhurst impressed with two tries as did Hywel Baker who also grabbed himself a brace. Another excellent performance in an outstanding season so far in which promotion would be the absolute icing on the cake. 

In Division Three West, Pembroke were well beaten by Laugharne 74-15 in which the outstanding Liam Price and Nico Setaro both crossed the whitewash 4 teams a piece. The latter also added 7 successful conversions. 

There was a local derby at Pill Parks where Llangwm hosted Pembroke Dock Quins and it was an exciting clash. The visitors won narrowly 28-23, Craig Barnett and Gethin Bradney both scored two tries for the Quins. The Wasps battled hard and will be proud of their performance, Gethin Thomas impressed for the hosts with two tries of his own but it wasn’t enough to secure the points. 

St David’s hosted the high flying Cardigan outfit and were unable to score in reply to the visitors 20 points, with it ending 20-0. The Saints however won’t be losing too much sleep over it as they have had a great season so far. 

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Stephen Crabb leads inquiry on retaining community bank services  

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PRESELI Pembrokeshire MP, and Chair of the Welsh Affairs Select Committee Stephen Crabb is leading an inquiry in Parliament that will investigate the closure of high street banks in Wales, as well as access to cash.

In November 2023, Pembrokeshire saw the closure of Lloyds Bank in St Davids, and in the coming months both Barclays Bank and Halifax in Haverfordwest are set to close. In recent years, Wales has experienced a rapid decline in the number of high street banking services available to the public. Already in 2024, 23 high street bank closures have been announced in Wales, while automated teller machines (ATMs) declined by nearly a quarter between 2018 and 2023.

The Committee willconsider how declining high street banking services are impacting vulnerable people and small businesses across Wales, who are often more reliant on cash than digital banking. It will also examine how Wales is being affected by the loss of high street bank services, and whether the problem is worse in Wales than other parts of the UK.

Mr Crabb is a staunch advocate for retaining community banking facilities, especially in rural communities like Pembrokeshire where many local branches remain the only source of face-to-face banking provision for miles.

Recently Mr Crabb challenged Barclays Bank senior management on their decision to close the bank branch in Haverfordwest– a move that will see Barclays not only pull out of the county town, but means they won’t have a branch left anywhere in Pembrokeshire. He has also engaged with LINK – the UK’s largest cash machine network – and continues to campaign on the basis that a Banking Hub is established and that ATM machines should be retained or installed, especially in areas worst affected by the closures.  

Following the launch of the inquiry, MP Crabb added: “It is really sad to see so many banks across Wales closing as online banking grows in popularity. Despite the advantages of online banking, for a rural community with an ageing population like Pembrokeshire, bank branches hold huge importance as they offer face-to-face customer service.”

“I am acutely aware of the inconvenience that the bank closures locally have already caused following hundreds of replies from constituents to my ‘online banking survey’ ”

“I am looking forward to gathering further evidence on this subject through the committee’s inquiry, and will continue to put pressure on the relevant stakeholders to ensure that adequate alternative provisions are made through the establishment of banking hubs as well as the instalment of ATM machines where necessary.”

“In this inquiry, we are particularly keen to hear from those likely to be directly affected by the shift away from cash and physical banks. I encourage anyone with first-hand experience of losing banking services to give evidence to the Committee”

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Trains resume between Carmarthen and Pembroke Dock as works end

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TRAIN services resumed this morning (Thursday 28 March) after ten days of essential round-the-clock work to upgrade track and drainage between Carmarthen and Pembroke Dock.

The railway was closed from Monday 18 March to Wednesday 27 March to allow Network Rail teams to replace more than 200 metres of track and 300 tonnes of ballast (track stones) between Pembroke station and Pembroke Dock.

Work to improve the drainage between Narbeth and Kilgetty stations was also completed at the same time.

Nick Millington, Network Rail Wales and Borders route director, said: “This essential work in Pembrokeshire demonstrates our commitment to improving the reliability of the service we provide to passengers along our route.

“We know that replacing the track can be disruptive and very noisy, so I would like to thank the residents of Pembroke for their patience while our team carried out this crucial work.”

Colin Lea, Planning and Performance Director at Transport for Wales said: “We’re pleased that our colleagues in Network Rail have completed this essential work and that Transport for Wales rail services resumed today.

“We’d like to thank passengers for their patience while this work has progressed and look forward to welcoming passengers back in time for the Easter weekend.”

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