Mobiles catch out cocaine dealers

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Two men have each been jailed for eight years for taking cocaine with a street value of £285,000 into south Wales.

Police tracked dozens of mobile phone calls made in the run-up to the drug deal, arranged in west London.

Ringleader Colin Lewis and "middle-man" John Rowlands, both 41 and from Maesteg were each jailed for eight years.

Lewis was found guilty at Cardiff Crown Court of conspiring to supply Class A drugs and Rowlands changed his plea to guilty during the trial.

Rowlands left Maesteg to travel to London for the deal, under the direction of Lewis.

He was clicking his heels and biting his nails, no doubt Ieuan Morris, prosecuting

Prosecutor Ieuan Morris told the court: "He had with him £32,000 to buy a large package of cocaine from a man in the Hounslow area.

"The consignment of cocaine was en route to south Wales when police chose their moment to swoop."

The drugs were found in the rear footwell of the car being driven by Rowlands.

Meanwhile, police continued their observations on Lewis who was waiting for the consignment of top-quality cocaine to arrive at his home in Maesteg.

Mr Morris said: "He was clicking his heels and biting his nails, no doubt. His demeanour was frantic, his behaviour agitated.

Bundles of cash

"He was making and receiving mobile phone calls. He was traipsing back and fore. When he was arrested he told police: 'What's all this about?'"

The court heard that the cocaine was analysed and found to be 71% pure. When cut with other substances, the drugs would have a maximum street value of £285,000.

The jury was shown the package of drugs and the bundles of cash used to make the drugs deal.

The court heard that Lewis' palm print and Rowlands' fingerprint were found on the box used to ship the money to London.

Lewis was working as a barman at the Station Hotel in Maesteg, and was landlord to Rowlands, who lived in a flat there.