Accused of £1m drugs operation (From South Wales Guardian)

Accused of £1m drugs operation

10:32am Wednesday 8th July 2009

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Two Pontardawe men are to appear in crown court accused of taking part in a £1million drug-dealing operation.

Keri Lyn Pritchard, aged 33, and 31-year-old David Carl Richards will appear before a judge at Cardiff Crown Court on Monday, July 13, charged with conspiracy to supply cocaine and amphetamines, along with a series of money laundering offences.

Three men from the Bournemouth area, aged 32, 35 and 37, have also been charged with conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.

All five men appeared before magistrates in Cardiff on Thursday, where the case was immediately sent to crown court due to the seriousness of the charges facing the accused. No pleas were taken.

The hearing came after a series of dawn raids by South Wales Police, Dorset Police and the Serious Organised Crime Agency last Tuesday, June 30.

The swoops were the culmination of a seven-month operation carried out by police across the nation.

Chief Inspector Dave Bishop, of Neath Port Talbot Police, said: “The community of Pontardawe will have noticed a heightened police presence in the area throughout last Tuesday. This was absolutely necessary in order to execute the warrants and carry out our investigations.”

Pritchard and Richards, along with the three men from Bournemouth, were remanded in custody in Cardiff until their next court appearance.

A sixth man, aged 33, who was arrested in Pontardawe raids, has been released on police bail while investigations continue.

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