Three men have been jailed following a Wiltshire Police investigation into the supply of cocaine and other drugs in Swindon, which uncovered more than £300,000 worth of illegal drugs and tens of thousands of pounds in cash.
Kyran Crane, 23, of Baydon Close, Swindon, Bailey Wilson, 21, of Walter Close, Swindon, and 51-year-old Lewis Howells, of Ipswich Street, Swindon, were all arrested following the investigation by the force’s Serious and Organised Crime Unit.
Crane and Wilson were arrested on 23 March after officers gathered evidence that Crane had been using Wilson to store and supply drugs. Both were found carrying a bladed article when they were arrested.
When Crane was stopped by officers, he had just sent a message to order a large quantity of cannabis from a man later identified as Howells.
Howells was arrested the following day and officers searching his address recovered a substantial haul of Class A and Class B drugs, together with more than £41,000 in cash.
The drugs seized included 2.5kg of cocaine, 26.9kg of cannabis, around 9,000 ecstasy tablets, 4.3kg of ketamine, 1.17kg of crystal methamphetamine, 1.6kg of cannabis resin, 798 grams of magic mushrooms, 4.5 litres of GBL and 493 grams of MDMA crystal.
Police estimated the total value of the drugs at between £303,840 and £562,455.
Financial investigations into Howells also found that more than £444,000 had passed through his bank account during the two years before his arrest. More than £330,000 of this consisted of third-party payments which police suspected were connected to drug dealing.
A further £100,000 was found in a savings account, which has been frozen pending Proceeds of Crime Act proceedings.
Howells appeared at Swindon Crown Court on Friday, 18 September, where he was sentenced to four years in prison.
Crane had previously pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of Class A and B drugs and was sentenced to four years in prison on 5 June. Wilson pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs and was sentenced to three years.
Both were also ordered to complete 250 hours of unpaid work and comply with a rehabilitation activity requirement. Crane was ordered to pay a £228 surcharge and Wilson a £187 surcharge.
Detective Inspector Sarah Champion said the three men had been responsible for supplying significant quantities of drugs in Swindon.
“Drugs are a blight on our communities and we know that such illegal activity is closely linked to violence and criminal exploitation of vulnerable people,” she said.
She added that police were continuing to target those involved in drug supply and urged members of the public to report information about suspected criminal activity.
Information about the signs of county lines activity and how to report suspected drug-related activity is available from Wiltshire Police’s county lines advice.
