Cannabis gang jailed after importing drugs from US to Wales

⚖️🚨 Three members of an organised crime group who sourced large quantities of cannabis — including from the United States — and distributed it across West Wales have been jailed. The gang laundered tens of thousands of pounds through online cryptocurrencies and banked huge sums of cash, with police recovering a one-kilo silver bar during their investigation.

The operation

Swansea Crown Court heard that 38-year-old Daniel Drabble headed the operation, sourcing cannabis from the US and Britain before directing and organising its distribution across West Wales. Part of the operation involved importing cannabis from America and having packages sent to various addresses for collection.

In summer 2022, customs officers intercepted a US package destined for an address in Ceredigion. Whilst the declaration form listed the parcel as containing a mixed martial arts helmet, it actually contained 32 packages of cannabis.

Police seized phones, cash, and a one-kilo silver bar from Drabble’s home. Though he refused to reveal the phone PINs, officers eventually accessed the devices and found messages showing the operation’s extent. Drabble had also been using a cryptocurrency wallet but refused to reveal the access code. After being released under investigation following his arrest, he resumed his cannabis dealing business.

The gang members

The investigation identified 47-year-old Ian Biddyr as Drabble’s “trusted lieutenant”. Biddyr stored multi-kilo quantities of cannabis and laundered some £200,000 through his bank account. In the boot of an Audi parked on his drive, police found a suitcase of cannabis worth almost £49,000 at street-deal prices.

Co-defendant Ashley Williams, 40, received packages of cannabis from the US and handled tens of thousands of pounds in drugs money. He also exchanged cash into cryptocurrency which he forwarded to Drabble. Prosecutor Craig Jones said that when Williams was arrested and interviewed by detectives, he was “largely mocking of the process” and responded to many questions by “quacking like a duck”.

One of the operation’s customers identified from phone evidence was 27-year-old Gareth Hinrichs, who bought kilos of cannabis from the gang and distributed it through his own network of street dealers and runners in Aberystwyth. Beth McCarthy, 25, acted as a courier, delivering cocaine supplies to Aberystwyth in her Renault Clio on two occasions under instruction from Biddyr.

During the investigation, officers located a suitcase wrapped in a bin bag hidden in woodland near Mwnt in Ceredigion, containing almost 6kg of cannabis. The dates on the packages were written in American format with the month first, indicating they originated from the US.

The guilty pleas

Daniel Drabble, of Y Ferwig, Cardigan, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cannabis and knowingly being concerned in the fraudulent evasion of a prohibition on the importation of cannabis.

Ian Biddyr, of Gwbert Road, Cardigan, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cannabis and money laundering.

Ashley Williams, now of Llwyncelyn Avenue, Pontarddulais, Swansea, pleaded guilty to knowingly being concerned in the fraudulent evasion of a prohibition on the importation of cannabis and to money laundering.

Gareth Hinrichs, of Llys Hendre, Waunfawr, Aberystwyth, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cannabis.

Beth McCarthy, of Heol y Waun, Maesycrugiau, Carmarthenshire, was convicted at trial of conspiracy to supply cannabis.

Mitigation

Jim Tilbury, for Drabble, said his client indicated his willingness to plead guilty at the earliest opportunity and was remorseful. The defendant experienced a “difficult upbringing” including periods living on the streets, and his conviction and sentence would be a “hammer blow” for his family including his children.

Phillipa Eastwood, for Biddyr, said her client worked as an HGV driver for 20 years before losing his licence after being caught driving under the influence. With alternative work hard to come by during the Covid pandemic, Biddyr turned to people he knew in the drugs community through his own heavy use of cannabis. She said her client was paid “£200 here and £200 there” for the use of his bank account and occasionally acted as a courier. Since the offending, Biddyr has regained his driving licence and work and is no longer addicted to cannabis.

Ian Ibrahim, for Williams, said following major spinal surgery at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff in 2019, the defendant was prescribed opioid medication then turned to cocaine, cannabis, and alcohol to help relieve his pain. It was in his “vulnerable” state that others “ruthlessly” used Williams’ bank account. Since the offending, the defendant has moved away from Aberystwyth and now “leads a quiet life spending most of his time gardening”.

Hannah George, for Hinrichs, said following his father’s death when he was a teenager, the defendant turned to using cannabis and his use “spiralled out of control” during the Covid pandemic. The defendant’s arrest had been a “wake up call” for him, and since the offending he has found work as a pub chef and delivery driver.

Kate Williams, for McCarthy, said the mother-of-five wants to put the offending behind her and “hopes to be a better mother and role model”.

The sentences

With discounts for their guilty pleas, Judge Catherine Richards sentenced Drabble to three years in prison, Biddyr to 27 months, and Williams to two years. The defendants will each serve 40 per cent of their sentences in custody before being released on licence to serve the remainder in the community.

With discounts for their guilty pleas, Hinrichs was sentenced to 12 months in prison suspended for 12 months and was ordered to complete a rehabilitation course and do 250 hours of unpaid work, whilst McCarthy was given a 12-month community order and must complete a rehabilitation course and pay a fine of £250.