Twelve years’ jail for valleys man found with haul of drugs, firearms and stolen goods
David Smith
A valleys drug dealer is behind bars after a raid at a shipping container owned by him led officers to vast quantities of drugs, firearms, cash and stolen vehicles.
Officers executed a warrant at a container in Tonypandy owned by David Smith, 35, in January this year.
There they uncovered quantities of amphetamine and cannabis, drug supply paraphernalia, a stolen car and a stolen off-road motorbike.
Subsequent searches of another vehicle and his home uncovered two sawn-off shotguns, a handgun, shot gun cartridges, a Taser disguised as a torch, further quantities of illegal drugs which later transpired to be cocaine and extremely potent opioids, £17,000 in cash and mobile phones and paraphernalia linked to wholesale drug supply.
 Firearms located during the search |  Ammunition was among the haul found by officers |  Large quantities of cannabis. Officers also seized a significant amount of Class A drugs |
Smith, of Francis Street, Clydach Vale, pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing a prohibited firearm, possessing a disguised firearm, possessing a prohibited weapon, possession with intent to supply Class A and B drugs, and possession of a psychoactive substance with intent to supply.
He was sentenced at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court to 12 years’ imprisonment.
Hi co-accused, Coran Davies, 22 – who was at the wheel of a stolen car when the two tried to flee as police arrived to conduct the warrant – was given a 12-month suspended sentence. He had pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply a psychoactive substance, possession with intent to supply Class B drugs, and handling stolen goods.
Detective Inspector Russell Jenkins said:
“David Smith was making a significant amount of money from his illegal operation, and showed a complete disregard for the misery he was inflicting on the local community and beyond.
“In court, the prosecution made reference to the potency of the opioids been sold as ‘fake heroin’ by Smith; they were 100 times more powerful than heroin and were extremely dangerous. This just shows his contempt for those he was supplying to, as does his willingness to possess firearms in order to protect his operation at all costs.
“We hope this sentencing serves as a warning to others engaged in such criminality, as well as providing reassurance to our communities. We will be relentless in our pursuit ruthless criminals and will do all we can to uncover evidence – no matter how complex or sophisticated the operation – to bring them before the courts and to justice.”
