Two men jailed for running Cardiff drugs hotline
A court heard the pair used dedicated mobile phone hotlines to connect with buyers
Two men from Cardiff have been jailed after pleading guilty to supplying heroin and ‘crack’ cocaine.
Daniel Lewis, 38, from Canton received a reduced sentenced of two years and eight months and Lewis Hicks, 32, from Fairwater was sent to prison for four years and ten months at Cardiff Crown Court on Friday 8 March.
During an investigation conducted by South Wales Police’s Cardiff & Vale Organised Crime Unit, officers identified an Organised Crime Group (OCG) which was heavily involved in the trafficking of class A drugs at a street level in the Welsh capital.
Evidence in the case showed the OCG, known as the Jimmy Line, was using dedicated mobile telephone numbers to facilitate the supply of heroin and ‘crack’ cocaine to drug users at a street level.
Daniel Lewis was identified as the principal member of the crime group and his second in command was identified as Lewis Hicks.
The gang used homeless and class A drug addicted members of the community to facilitate their business with evidence of violence being readily threatened to others to comply with their demands.
Evidence further suggested Daniel Lewis was using trusted family members and friends as safe houses for cash and drugs as well as using several different vehicles including those registered in others’ names to carry out his business.
The investigation, which took place over several months at the beginning of 2023 saw the arrests of more than 10 individuals, all of which were identified as working on behalf of what was known as the ‘Jimmy’ Line.
The investigation culminated in the execution of eight simultaneous search warrants on July 14 last year where officers recovered, more than £50,000 in cash, designer items in the form of clothing and jewelry, several vehicles and drug paraphernalia.
Evidence showed that during his criminality Daniel Lewis had accumulated large reserves of cash and was living a lavish lifestyle having travelled abroad on several holidays, spending more than £25,000 on five holidays since August 2022, he also bought high-end vehicles worth tens of thousands of pounds.