Three men appear in court following drug raids

Three men from Caerphilly County Borough have appeared in court following a series of co-ordinated drugs raids across the UK.

Robert John Charles Butler, 43, of Attlee Court, Lansbury Park, Caerphilly, Mark Anthony Davies, 35, of Central Avenue, Oakdale, and Mark Haydn Jenkins, 37 of Christchurch Road, Penmaen, were all charged with conspiracy to supply cocaine.

A 28-year-old man from Cwmbran, Nicholas Kirkham-Jones, was also arrested and charged by Gwent Police during the operation.

All four men appeared before Newport Magistrates’ Court on Friday, July 3.

They were all remanded in custody and will next appear at Crown Court on July 31.

The arrests were made after the National Crime Agency gained access to an encrypted messaging system used by criminals called Encrochat.

As well as in other parts of the UK, operations were carried out across south Wales on Thursday, July 2, with around 60kg of cocaine, crack cocaine and heroin, worth an estimated £6.5m, as well as £2.5m in cash, seized by police.

Across south Wales, 16 arrests were made during the raids, with search warrants carried out at 38 properties.

Tarian – the Regional Organised Crime Unit – has been working with Gwent Police, as well as South Wales Police, Dyfed Powys Police and the National Crime Agency over the last two months to target organised crime groups and drug dealers in south Wales, as part of UK-wide Operation Venetic.

Anyone with information about the supply of drugs can contact Gwent Police on 101, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.