A NEWPORT man was among 10 members of a drug gang sentenced to a total of 35 years in prison at Cardiff Crown Court.

An organised crime group involved in the supply of Class A controlled drugs in South Wales were sentenced this week following an investigation by the regional organised crime unit, Tarian.

Jason Anthony Weir, 48, of Keats Close, Gaer, was sentenced to six years after admitting conspiracy to supply cocaine and heroin.

Operation Santa Fe investigated a conspiracy to supply Class A drugs between October 11, 2012 and December 3, 2012.

Covert surveillance was gathered which proved a complex drug trafficking operation involving the movement of a substantial quantity of heroin and cocaine from Liverpool into South Wales and the South West.

The organised crime group, was headed by Clifford and Anthony Butler, who had based themselves in Bristol, and officers from Tarian, working with local police forces and other agencies, were able to prove the movement of large sums of money to the Liverpool area and the subsequent movement of drugs to South Wales.

All members of the criminal group pleaded guilty to the two charges against them – conspiracy to supply cocaine and conspiracy to supply heroin.

Clifford Timothy Butler, 38, and Anthony James Butler, 36, both of Thomas Lane, Bristol, were sentenced to seven years and five years respectively.

Leigh Brian Welch, 44 of Gilwern Place, Cardiff was sentenced to four years, Jemal Estridge, 29, of Beaumont Street, Liverpool, six years, Barrington St Clair Webbe, 28, of Hayes Point, Sully, Penarth, three years and Huw Owen, 42, of Pembroke Court, Cardiff, two years.

Darren Williams, 42 of Gilwern Place, Cardiff was sentenced to two years, Christopher Williams, 48 of Cardiff Bay, 16 months and Gabrielle Louise Lovell, 24 of Thomas Lane, Bristol was given a 16-month suspended sentence.