A wholesale drug dealer was found with numerous firearms including sawn-off shotguns as well as cocaine and a synthetic opioid 100 times more powerful than heroin. He attempted to flee from officers who discovered his stash in a shipping container.
David Smith, 35, was arrested following a raid on his shopping container in Tonypandy on January 19. When police arrived at the container a stolen Ford EcoSport was seen trying to escape from an embankment but rolled backwards.
A sentencing hearing at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court heard the driver was Coran Davies, 22, who was handcuffed and searched. He was found in possession of four keys which unlocked padlocks on the shipping container while he also had cash and 28g of cannabis.
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When police searched the shipping container in Wern Street, Clydach Vale, they discovered a carrier bag containing pink rocks. This was found to be metonitazene – a synthetic opioid described by prosecutor John Ryan as being "a 100 times more potent than diamorphine". The drug was said to have originated in China and was sold as "fake heroin" which had a high risk of users overdosing.
Also found in the container was a significant amount of cutting agents, more than 6kg of cannabis trimmings, a hydraulic press, and digital scales containing traces of various drugs.
It was discovered that Smith had fled from the area in a Range Rover Sport. A search was made for the vehicle but Smith was seen riding as a passenger in a white car which was stopped by the police. When searched he was found with cash, a Range Rover key, and a balaclava.
The Range Rover Sport was discovered nearby and contained an ID card in Smith's name, cash, two packages of cocaine weighting 55.4g and 41.9g respectively, a passport, car keys, and a receipt in his name. A Volkswagen Crafter belonging to Smith was discovered in Adams Street and was also searched.
Inside the van were two single-barrelled sawn-off shotguns, live shotgun cartridges, two electric stun guns, an imitation handgun, digital scales, £17,000 in cash, four mobile phones, a black knuckleduster. A search of an address in Sunny Bank, linked to Smith, led to the discovery of 971 vials of mannitol, which is a cutting agent.
Mr Ryan recounted the total figures involved in the case which included 97.3g of cocaine, 195g of metonitazene, 28g of cannabis with 6.41kg of cannabis trimmings, and £25,371 in cash.
Smith, of Francis Street, Clydach Vale, later pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing a prohibited firearm, possessing a disguised firearm, possessing a prohibited weapon, possession with intent to supply Class A and B drugs, and possession of a psychoactive substance with intent to supply. The court heard he has 14 previous convictions including possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, for which he received a five-year prison sentence, and conspiracy to supply controlled drugs of Class B.
Davies, of High Street, Clydach Vale, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply a psychoactive substance, possession with intent to supply Class B drugs, and handling stolen goods. The court heard he has limited previous convictions including possession of cannabis and possession of an offensive weapon.
In mitigation for Smith barrister Steven Donoghue said his client had been helping the prison authorities since his arrest and had been given enhanced prisoner status. He said the defendant, who has a seven-year-old daughter, wished to put his criminal behaviour behind him and live a more stable and law-abiding life.
In mitigation for Davies barrister Hashim Salmman said there was a realistic prospect of rehabilitation in his client's case and was in a different position to his co-defendant. He said the defendant faced challenges at school but had obtained employment in the construction industry though he was misusing cannabis and was susceptible to being easily influenced.
Judge Simon Mills said: "The two of you were involved at different levels in street dealing and a wholesale drug dealing business.... You used a base to carry out business where drugs were adulterated, weighed, and prepared for onward supply."
The judge told Smith the weapons were clearly designed to "protect" his drug dealing business. He added: "You knew very well the risks of getting involved in crime as serious as this."
Smith was sentenced to a total of 12 years imprisonment of which he will serve half in custody. Davies was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment suspended for two years and was ordered to carry out a 25-day rehabilitation activity requirement and 180 hours unpaid work.
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