Cardiff Drug Dealer Jailed After Machete Found in Home Raid

A Cardiff drug dealer has been sentenced to over two years in prison after police discovered crack cocaine, cannabis, and a machete during a raid at his home.

James Berry, 31, of Newport Road, Roath, was arrested on 24th February when officers seized various amounts of drugs from his property. The court heard that 48 wraps of crack cocaine worth between £1,200 and £1,400 were found, along with cannabis valued at £350 to £420.

Police also discovered drug paraphernalia, a burner phone used for “text bombs” to customers, and a machete amongst the items seized.

Berry later claimed he owed a substantial drug debt which he needed to pay off. He pleaded guilty to two counts of possession with intent to supply class A drugs.

Defence barrister Leah Pollard said her client’s drug debt had “spiralled” out of control, though she accepted the father of two had benefited financially and was aware of the operation’s scale.

Sentencing at Cardiff Crown Court on Tuesday, Judge Shomon Khan said: “You had a significant role in supplying drugs directly to users. You must have had a full awareness of the scale of the operation and expected profit… Those involved in the supply of drugs have to receive heavy prison sentences.”

Berry, who has 24 previous convictions including theft and a single drug offence from 2015, was sentenced to two years and four months imprisonment. ⚖️