Members of Cardiff organised crime group jailed
Group responsible for 'substantial' amount of class A drugs reaching South Wales
Last updated 16th Feb 2024
Four men from Cardiff have been convicted of drugs offences and sent to prison for a combined total of more than 23 years.
The men formed an Organised Crime Group who were using encrypted telephones to facilitate the importation and distribution of substantial amounts of class A drugs into the South Wales area.
The investigation – known as Operation Falco - was launched in April 2020 after Tarian, the regional organised crime unit for southern Wales, received intelligence from the National Crime Agency which included messages being sent between the OCG members and associates.
One of the OCG’s regular customers was using the name ‘mercifulalpha’.
He was subsequently identified as Cameron Williams from the Ely area of Cardiff.
Williams was a multi-kilogram drug dealer who predominantly supplied cocaine. He purchased between 1-3 kilograms of cocaine at a time splitting them for onward supply.
Cameron Williams entered early guilty pleas in relation to conspiracy to supply cocaine and heroin and he has been on remand since 2021, awaiting sentence.
Craig Williams, also from the Ely area was a courier that Cameron Williams used to collect heroin from Liverpool twice in April 2020 – bringing some five kilograms back to Cardiff.
In December 2022 Craig Williams failed to attend Cardiff Crown court for trial and a bench warrant was issued for his arrest. It was established that he had fled the UK travelling to the USA.
Working in collaboration with the NCA and the DEA Williams was quickly found and a warrant was executed in the US. However, he had already fled the country, returning to the UK. He was arrested a few days later in Barry and remanded into custody. Craig Williams entered a guilty plea on the first day of his trial.
On Wednesday, February 14, Cameron Williams, 24, was sentenced at Newport Crown Court to 11 years in prison.
On the same day, Craig Williams, 39, was sentenced to six years and four months in prison.
On Friday, February 9, David Osborne, 40, was sentenced to six years and four months in prison.
Also, on February 9, Daniel Lovell, 34, received an 18-month sentence suspended for two years.
Detective Constable Ian Morgan of Tarian, said: “The cross-border work of Tarian is exactly how we are able to bring perpetrators like these to justice.
“I hope that this sentence sends a strong message to those who think they are above the law, and who see drug dealing as a way to make quick and substantial amounts of money.
“It is only a matter of time until Organised Crime Groups such as these are caught and we will work tirelessly, alongside our local police forces and law enforcement agencies across the UK, to ensure that they are.
“Drugs cause endless misery within our communities and we urge anyone who suspects illegal drug activity in their community to come forward and tell us what they know.”