Elisha Mutsunge (Image: Tarian)
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A Cardiff man who sold cocaine in wholesale quantities and was involved in bringing the drug into the UK from the United States has been jailed for 11 years and eight months.
Elisha Mutsunge, 35, of Cowbridge Road East in Canton, was sentenced by Judge Celia Hughes at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court on Thursday.
He had admitted:
- being concerned in the supply of cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin, cannabis and amphetamine
- possession of criminal property
- being concerned in the fraudulent evasion of a prohibition on the importation of cocaine
The Chicago parcel
The investigation started with a package that never made it to its destination. It had been sent from Chicago and was stopped by staff at East Midlands Airport on 15 July 2024. Inside was 1.1kg of cocaine.
That amount was worth between £27,000 and £30,000 at wholesale prices. Sold on the street, it would have been worth between £100,000 and £113,000.
The parcel was addressed to a man named Christian Mustafa at an address in Cardiff. After Mustafa was arrested, his phone showed he had been in touch with a Snapchat account using the name “matticsmoke”. This account was believed to belong to a dealer higher up the supply chain.
Investigators linked that account to Mutsunge. The court heard he had arranged for the delivery to go to Mustafa, whose part was to receive it.
Phone evidence
Mutsunge was first arrested on 10 December 2024, when police stopped a car he was travelling in. He had 2.9g of cocaine and high-value clothing with him, and officers seized his phone.
Messages on the phone showed he was dealing class A drugs at wholesale level. One photograph showed his hand holding what appeared to be five blocks of white powder. These were believed to make up 5kg of cocaine. However, his barrister, Andrew Taylor, said three of the blocks were cutting agent.
He was arrested again on 21 March 2025 with £115 on him. His phone showed he was still directing others to hold and distribute drugs for him.
The garage search
Officers also searched One Stop Autos, his business premises in Cardiff. They recovered:
- scales and cutting agents
- kilo-sized vacuum packs and a vacuum suction device
- a blender carrying traces of cocaine and heroin
- a hydraulic press, which two large dogs were guarding
Record and mitigation
Mutsunge has 16 previous convictions, including offences of serious violence, motoring offences and drug offences.
In mitigation, the court was told he had a “settled childhood” and gained qualifications as a mechanic, which led to him taking over his cousin’s garage. He inherited debts with the business and started dealing drugs to pay them off.
He was stabbed repeatedly in 2025 and received threats to kill. He still suffers physical and psychological effects from the attack.
While on remand in prison, he has completed a number of courses, become a mentor and is studying business management.
Police response
Speaking after the hearing, Detective Sergeant Matt Jacob of Tarian ROCU said: “The supply of illegal drugs has a devastating impact on our communities, bringing misery to vulnerable people and generating profit for those involved in organised crime.
“This investigation uncovered clear evidence of Mutsunge’s role in supplying controlled drugs, and today’s sentence should serve as a warning that those involved in this type of criminality will be identified, investigated and brought to justice.
“Tarian ROCU remains committed to tackling serious and organised crime across southern Wales and protecting our communities from the harm it causes.”
