Chepstow man jailed over £35k drug conspiracy

Police seized crack cocaine and heroin worth almost £35,000 from the flat of a drug addict who became embroiled in a conspiracy to flood south Wales with drugs.

Gregory Lewis, 26, was involved in a conspiracy to supply the Class A drugs from London to Chepstow between last December and February this year.

The operation came to the police’s attention after another man was arrested in Chepstow on 15th February and was found in possession of a large quantity of cash, 57 cocaine deals, and mobile phones, prosecutor Jeffrey Jones told Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court.

Days later, police received a report that “suspicious” men were seen exiting a vehicle and going into a block of flats in Chepstow. Officers attended and arrested the men – one of whom was Lewis.

Mr Jones said CCTV footage from a nearby property showed Lewis handling a bag and passing keys and a phone to another man.

A search was conducted of Lewis’ flat, and 153 grams of crack cocaine and 180 grams of heroin was seized – worth a combined £34,710. Officers also seized around 232 grams of cannabis worth around £2,880.

A Samsung Galaxy phone was seized and analysed, and messages showed it had been used in the supply of cannabis and cannabis resin.

Lewis, of Lady Margaret Court in the Thornwell area of Chepstow, pleaded guilty to conspiring to supply crack cocaine and heroin, and being concerned in the supply of cannabis.

The court heard that Lewis’ only previous conviction was for an offence of drug-driving in 2021.

Charles Archer, in mitigation, said: “Mr Lewis was in a position where he became out of his depth in a much bigger operation than he realised. Mr Lewis was clearly at the bottom of this conspiracy. He was acting under the direction of more sophisticated offenders.”

Mr Archer said the defendant had “a history of drug abuse” and was a “heavy user” of ketamine and cannabis – which he used to “self-medicate”. He added that Lewis’ role was limited to the storage of the drugs at his address, and that he was “simply not aware of what he was getting himself in to”.

Judge Simon Mills said: “They were utterly determined to flood Class A drugs in to our communities here in south Wales. They could not have run this enterprise without somebody like you being willing to help. You have destroyed your life by using, in particular, ketamine. This is exactly the sort of person that more sophisticated drug dealers use.”

He jailed Lewis for 33 months.

Mr Jones confirmed that an application would be made under the Proceeds of Crime Act in order to attempt to recoup any profits Lewis made from his offending.