THE girlfriend of a drug dealer who looked after £150,000 of a heroin and cocaine gang’s profits was told she was lucky not to be joining him in jail.

Faye Climo, 43, of Fosse Road, Newport, the money laundering partner of Amjid Rafiq, was handed a suspended prison sentence after she stashed dirty cash.

Rafiq, 46, of Harrow Road, Newport, was locked up for eight years last month along with two other drug dealers.

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They were the gang’s boss, Farah Hashi, 29, of Francis Drive, Newport, jailed for 14 years and four months, and Ryan Davies, 29, of Monnow Way, Bettws, Newport, who was sent to prison for six years.

South Wales Argus:

Money launderer Faye Climo. Picture: Facebook

The gang were trafficking heroin and cocaine primarily in Newport but also had links as far afield as Swansea.

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During Climo’s sentencing hearing, prosecutor Heath Edwards said: “She played a discreet role as a money launderer for the principal offender Farah Hashi.

South Wales Argus:

Amjid Rafiq was the righthand man of the gang’s boss Farah Hashi 

“It was for around £150,000 and she was paid £350 on one or two occasions.”

Climo pleaded guilty to possession of criminal property.

She had become “involved in a relationship” with Rafiq, an earlier hearing was told.

Emma Harris, mitigating, said: “Her involvement was limited.”

South Wales Argus:

Farah Hashi held a grudge against another dealer called ‘Uncle’, a court was told

Cardiff Crown Court heard how the defendant looked after a young daughter and had a job.

Climo had also been assessed as posing a “low risk of reoffending” with her last conviction being more than 20 years ago.

South Wales Argus:

Ryan Davies had not long been released from jail for dealing heroin and cocaine in 2019

The judge, Recorder David Elias QC, said the defendant had made a “small financial gain” after becoming involved with the gang between January and February.

He told her: “You were in possession of around £150,000, money that came from drug sales and money that was used to buy more drugs.

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“Although you were only involved briefly, you played a role that was needed.”

The judge said he was impressed by Climo’s references which described her as a trusted employee.

He told her he was prepared to avoid sending her straight to jail, but added: “You can see this as a last chance.”

Climo was sent to prison for eight months, suspended for 18 months.

She was ordered to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work, complete a 15-day rehabilitation activity requirement and pay a £156 surcharge.

Last month a fifth defendant, Kaisha Griffiths, 30, of Westfield Avenue, Newport, was jailed for two years, suspended for two years.

She hid heroin under the stairs of her home for the gang.

Hashi, Rafiq, Davies and Griffiths all pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply heroin and conspiracy to supply cocaine.

When they were sentenced last month, Mr Edwards said the gang were sometimes raking in between £4,000 and £5,000 a day.