Lloyd Williams (Image: Tarian)
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A drug dealer who stored vast quantities of cocaine, heroin, and ecstasy in a van has been sentenced to more than a decade behind bars.
Lloyd Williams, 42, of Medway Court, Bettws, Newport, was jailed for 11 years and three months at Cardiff Crown Court after admitting being concerned in the supply of class A drugs and possession with intent to supply class A drugs.
Sentencing
Recorder Barry Clarke told Williams: “You were storing, moving and distributing a huge amount of class A drugs. This was a commercial and organised operation on a high level.”
He added: “You may not have been at the top, but you did play a leading role.”
The haul
Officers stopped Williams in Newport in March 2025 while he was behind the wheel of a hired Volvo with his girlfriend as a passenger. Police seized 1kg of cocaine from the vehicle.
A search of a Citroën van connected to the defendant uncovered a far larger stash – an additional 8kg of cocaine, 2.5kg of heroin, and a quantity of ecstasy. Officers also recovered £7,795 in cash.
The drugs had a combined estimated street value of around £220,000. The offending covered a period from August 26, 2024 to March 3, 2025.
Phone evidence
After his arrest, Williams refused to provide detectives with the PIN to his mobile phone. When officers eventually gained access to the device, they found messages linked to drug supply.
Criminal record
The court heard Williams had five previous convictions spanning eight separate offences, including causing grievous bodily harm with intent in 2019 and supplying ecstasy in 2007.
Mitigation
Defence barrister Gareth Williams told the court his client had expressed genuine remorse and was acting under direction from others.
“He was being told what to do,” Mr Williams said.
He added that the defendant had always intended to enter guilty pleas, earning him a 25 per cent reduction in his sentence.
Williams is due to face a proceeds of crime hearing later this year.
