A drug gang has received a combined sentence of nearly 50 years after supplying cocaine to Aberystwyth.

Twelve members of the gang were sentenced to a combined 48 years in jail after a year-long operation by Dyfed-Powys Police into their supply of cocaine and cannabis to the town.

Sentencing over two days this week has resulted in a combined total of 48 years of jail time handed to defendants as part of Operation Burleigh.

The operation was run by the force’s serious and organised crime team in response to the trafficking of cocaine and cannabis into Aberystwyth by an organised crime group from the West Midlands between August 2022 and September 2023.

Officers seized cocaine with a street value of more than £400,000 from these gang members, who continually changed tactics to avoid arrest.

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As a result of the operation, a total of 16 people were arrested and charged with conspiracy to supply class A and B drugs, most of whom had embedded themselves into flats and guest houses in Aberystwyth.

As work progressed to identify the gang members, officers used a clear, hold and build strategy, working with partner agencies to fully disrupt the supply of illegal substances.

DCI Rich Lewis said: “On the basis that the amounts of cocaine transported over the 37 couriers over the course of the conspiracy period were similar, over 3kg of cocaine would have been conveyed to Aberystwyth from Birmingham.

“This equates to class A drugs with a potential street value of over £308,950.  In addition to this, class A drugs were seized from individuals and addresses with a potential street value of £103,445, along with cash totalling £11,687.

“A number of teams and departments across Dyfed-Powys Police, from analysts, CCTV operators and priority policing teams, to CAB, the Technical Support Unit, Economic Crime Team and Force Intelligence Bureau all assisted in dismantling the OCG from top to bottom.

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“Their dedication and relentless efforts have assisted in making Aberystwyth a safer place to live without the threat and harm of drugs being made easily available on the street.”

Sentencing of the arrested men is taking part in phases, with 13 defendants appearing in court on Wednesday 11 and Thursday 12 September.

Toana Ahmed, 33, of Lee Gardens in Smethwick, West Midlands was one of the heads of the organised crime gang, and was sentenced to 12 years in prison.

Barzan Sarhan, age 31, no fixed address, acted as a courier for the gang and was sentenced to four years in prison.

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Daban Khalil, 24, of Streetly Road, Birmingham; Walid Younis Abdal, 34, of St Anne’s Road, Doncaster; Kastro Omar, 30, of Junction Road, Northampton; Muhammed Kakarsh Hama Sharif, 27, of no fixed address and Saman Aziz, 42, of Kirk Road, Merseyside were all given sentences of three years.

Adel Mustafa, 39, of Hubert Road, Newport and Luqman Jarjis, 21, of Wake Green Road, Birmingham received a sentence of three years and four months.

Ahmed Piro, 27, of no fixed address received a sentence of four years in jail as did Karwan Karim, 39, of 125 Griffith John Street, Swansea.

Akasha Smith, 24, of Third Avenue, Aberystwyth received two years and six months

Charlotte Roberts, 21, of Sutton Hill, Telford, was sentenced to 18 months in prison suspended for two years.

The remaining gang members are due to be sentenced in October.