Ryan Morgan (Image: Tarian)
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A designer watch worth around £13,000 was found on the leader of a cocaine trafficking network while he was being held on remand – despite the timepiece not being among his possessions when he was taken into custody.
Ryan Morgan, 32, of Clwyd Road, Penlan, Swansea, headed an operation that funnelled large volumes of cocaine from the West Midlands into south west Wales, where it was stored and prepared for street-level distribution at properties and lock-up garages across the Swansea area.
He returned to Swansea Crown Court for a hearing concerning a prosecution bid to seize criminal assets under the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) and to impose a serious crime prevention order.
Operation Bluebird
The gang was dismantled following a probe by Tarian, the regional serious organised crime unit covering southern Wales. The investigation, codenamed Operation Bluebird, launched in October 2022 and saw officers carry out covert surveillance on a number of addresses and domestic garages – including premises on New Road in Skewen, Penbryn Terrace in Brynmill, and a lock-up unit on Grandison Street in the Hafod area of Swansea. Suspected members of the group were also followed as they travelled across south Wales and further afield.
Detectives established that Morgan and his younger brother Leon sat at the top of the enterprise, with links to organised crime networks in the Midlands. Officers were able to monitor vehicles and individuals moving between Swansea and the Midlands, as well as journeys to Newport where conspirators met to coordinate the cross-border supply chain.
Seven kilograms of cocaine seized
The operation reached a critical point on July 13, 2023, when officers tracked a recovery lorry travelling from Swansea to an Asda supermarket car park in Coventry. A car was loaded onto the vehicle before it headed back towards south Wales. Police stopped the transporter in Bonymaen, Swansea, and discovered 7kg of high-purity cocaine inside the car on its back.
News of the interception spread rapidly among the group, and officers moved quickly to execute search warrants at target addresses and garages in order to detain suspected gang members.
Dramatic arrest
When police attempted to arrest Morgan in Hafod in December, he rammed his Range Rover into police vehicles to flee the scene – at one point mounting the bonnet of one of the cars as he made his escape.
He was eventually located in a barber’s shop, where he had been having his facial hair shaved off in an attempt to alter his appearance.
The Rolex dispute
The court heard all parties agree Morgan profited from his criminality to the sum of £403,321. However, a confiscation order could not yet be finalised because of a dispute over the ownership of a Rolex watch valued at around £13,000 which the prosecution has identified as an available asset.
Roger Griffiths, for the prosecution, told the court the watch “did not go into custody” with Morgan when he was arrested, but was later discovered on him while he was on remand. He said: “It was clearly brought into the prison by someone. We say it was a gift to him. Now they are trying to retract the gift to avoid proceeds of crime biting.”
Dr Andreas O’Shea, representing Morgan, said as far as his client was concerned the proceeds of crime matters between the defendant and the prosecution were resolved, and that the remaining issue was between the prosecution and the third party claiming ownership of the watch.
A further hearing will be listed to hear evidence on who owns the timepiece before any POCA orders can be made.
Restrictions on release
Judge Catherine Richards granted a prosecution application to impose a serious crime prevention order on Morgan, which will take effect for five years from his release from custody.
Under the terms of the order, Morgan will face limits on the number of bank accounts, mobile phones, and vehicles he can hold, as well as restrictions on how much cash he may carry at any one time. He will be required to inform police of the details of his phones and bank accounts and allow officers to inspect them, and must also notify police of the vehicle he drives.
Judge Richards said she was satisfied there was a serious risk Morgan would go on to commit further serious offences in the future – particularly the supply of controlled drugs – and that the order and the “interference with freedom of actions” it involves was both necessary and justified.
The sentences
Morgan had previously been sentenced to 16 years in prison for conspiracy to supply cocaine, money laundering, and dangerous driving.
His brother Leon Morgan, 27, of Y Llanerch, Pontlliw, Swansea, received 10 years for conspiracy to supply cocaine and money laundering.
Thomas Saunders, 23, of Eigin Crescent, Mayhill, Swansea, was sentenced to seven years and 10 months; Jack Tomkins, 24, of Elan Avenue, Clase, Swansea, to seven years and one month; Gino Shergill, 32, of Romford Road, Coventry, to five years and 10 months; Kenny Peters, 44, of no fixed abode, to six-and-a-half years; and Nicky Davies, 35, of Pentregethin Road, Ravenhill, Swansea, to five years and two months. All were convicted of conspiracy to supply cocaine.
