Lee Whitfield (Image: South Wales Police)
Last Updated: 1 hour ago
A 49-year-old man has been sentenced to more than three years behind bars after undercover officers watched him carrying out what they believed were drug transactions in Cardiff.
Lee Whitfield, of Roath, was handed a three-year-and-three-month prison sentence at Cardiff Crown Court on Thursday, March 26, after admitting possession with intent to supply crack cocaine – a Class A drug.
The operation
Members of South Wales Police’s serious and organised crime team were carrying out proactive covert patrols in plain clothes across the city on Tuesday, February 10, when Whitfield drew their attention through suspicious behaviour.
Officers believed they were witnessing a drug deal taking place. Subsequent enquiries confirmed that one of the individuals seen meeting Whitfield was found to be in possession of crack cocaine.
Whitfield was later observed at a property, repeatedly going in and out – activity which officers suspected was linked to supplying drugs to people outside.
The evidence
After entering the address and arresting Whitfield on suspicion of supplying crack cocaine, officers searched both the property and his vehicle. A number of items were recovered, including an iPhone linked to a drugs line, a crack pipe, loose rocks of crack cocaine, digital scales bearing traces of white powder, and white rocks in clear wrapping.
Sentencing
Whitfield pleaded guilty to the charge and was jailed.
Detective Constable Adam Fenlon said: “The wider community is a better place with drug dealers like Whitfield off the streets.
“The drugs that were seized have devastating long-lasting consequences on the users, their family and the wider members of the public.
“Our plain clothes patrols could be anywhere at anytime, always on the look out to keep our communities safe from serious and organised crime.”
