A 24-year-old man from Barry has been handed a six-year prison sentence for his part in supplying crack cocaine and heroin, months after detectives arrested him as he walked out of the gate at Cardiff prison.
Iestyn Raven was sentenced at Cardiff Crown Court on Thursday 29 October 2026, following a fresh South Wales Police investigation into a drugs line known as “Reggie”.
The new case
Raven was charged with being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine and heroin. Investigators believe the “Reggie” line was active across the Vale of Glamorgan between January and May 2026, offering both Class A drugs to customers.
According to the force, the line’s messages carried the same distinctive branding and style that had been linked to Raven’s earlier conviction.
How detectives linked him
Officers found a number of parallels between the original line and the more recent operation, including:
- marketing messages
- contact patterns
- communications with customers
- the timing of the line’s activity
The investigation also showed that the line stopped operating straight after Raven was arrested and recalled to prison in May 2026. The same pattern had been seen in September 2024, when the original “Reggie” line went quiet following his arrest at that time.
Arrest at the prison gate
On 16 July 2026, detectives were waiting outside Cardiff prison. They arrested Raven as he stepped out through the gate.
The first conviction
Raven had already served time for supplying the same drugs. In January 2025 he was jailed for 40 months after admitting offences linked to the supply of crack cocaine and heroin throughout the Vale of Glamorgan.
That case drew wide attention after officers recovered video footage of him laughing and joking as he pretended to phone Universal Credit, using a bundle of cash believed to be the proceeds of drug dealing.
Speaking at the time, Detective Inspector Tim Jones said Raven was “certainly not laughing now” as he was sent to prison for his role in supplying dangerous Class A drugs.
What police said
Detective Constable Daniel Davies said:
“This investigation demonstrates our determination to target those who continue to profit from the misery caused by Class A drugs.
“Despite having previously received a substantial prison sentence, Raven once again found himself at the centre of a drugs supply operation.
“The communities of the Vale of Glamorgan can be reassured that we will continue to relentlessly pursue those involved in the supply of illegal drugs and bring them before the courts.”
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