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Twelve people, including eight from Caerphilly County Borough, have been sentenced for their involvement in a cocaine gang that laundered its profits into cryptocurrency.

The 12 appeared at Cardiff Crown Court on Thursday July 27 and Friday July 28, with the gang sentenced to a combined 88 years in prison.

They were caught by the Gwent Police-led Operation Solana, which was a two-year investigation into the group.

Gwent Police worked with other forces including Dyfed Powys, South Wales, and West Midlands Police – as well as the regional and organised crime unit (ROCU) and the National Crime Agency.

Joshua Billingham, 26, previously of Standard Street, Trethomas, but now of Parc Prison, Bridgend, was sentenced to 14 years and eight months in prison.

Billingham, who was already in prison for a separate offence, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine and conspiracy to use criminal property, as well as counts of possession of and intent to supply class C drugs.

Meanwhile, Amir Khan, 30, who was already serving time at Cardiff Prison ahead of the sentencing, was handed a 20 year and seven month sentence.

Khan pleaded guilty to being involved in the supply of cocaine, MDMA, and a class B drug – as well as conspiring to use criminal property.

He also had multiple charges of possessing class A, B, and C drugs with intent to supply.

Detective Constable Michael Coles, of Gwent Police, led the investigation. He said: “These sentences are the culmination of more than two years of meticulous work to disrupt, dismantle and bring this organised crime group to justice.

“The group operated on a hierarchical basis, sourcing vast amounts of cocaine and relied on the help of close friends and associates to distribute the drugs to dealers in south and mid Wales.

“Joshua Billingham and Amir Khan played the leading management role and used friends and family to launder the money obtained through drugs to cryptocurrency accounts in their names.”

DC Coles continued: “The court heard how the group used stash houses and industrial units to store, mix and supply their drugs. Between them, they supplied more than 40 kilograms of cocaine, a street value of £4.6 million, to drug dealers across Wales.”

He said more than £3m of crypto currency passed through the group’s accounts, which he said was “one of the first cases in Gwent where cryptocurrency was used to launder money”.

Who else was sentenced?

Leon Sullivan, 25, of Claude Road, Caerphilly, was sentenced to 11 years and four months in prison.

Darryl Skym, 28, formerly of Coronation Terrace, Senghenydd, but now of Parc Prison, was sentenced to ten years.

Ian Kidley, 24, of Salway Avenue, Pengam, was jailed for two years.

All three were sentenced for conspiracy to supply class A drugs.

Meanwhile, 25-year-old Callum Richards, of Twyn Gardens, Cefn Fforest, was also sentenced for conspiracy to supply class A, as well as possession with intent to supply class A. He was jailed for nine years and six months.

Also involved were Matthew Dean, 35, of Gilfach Street, Bargoed, and Joshua Collins, 26, formerly of Grays Gardens, Graig y Rhacca, but now of Parc Prison.

Both admitted to conspiracy to supply class A drugs and money laundering.

Dean was jailed for four years and three months, while Collins received a seven year and eight month sentence.

Another who was jailed was Stacey Challenger, 29, of Asquith Street, Tir y Berth. Challenger was slapped with a 12 month sentence for money laundering.

Sami Rehman, 28, of Kemys Place, Cardiff, received an 18-month sentence for conspiracy to launder money, while 27-year-old Sidra Khan, of Walden Road, Birmingham, was dealt an 18-month sentence, suspended for 18 months for the same offence.

Finally, Caitlin de Jager, of North Luton Place, Cardiff, admitted money laundering and being involved in the supply of class A drugs. She was jailed for four years and four months.

Anyone with information on drug supply can contact Gwent Police on 101, or through direct message on Facebook or Twitter. Alternatively, Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111.