Cardboard box of drug money

The largest ever haul of amphetamine sulphate - commonly known as speed - in Wales was seized in the Valleys by Gwent Police.

The success was the result of a 10-month investigation, Operation Verona, and saw detectives seizing 44kg of amphetamine sulphate with a street value of almost £2 million. More than £120,000 in cash was also recovered in the swoop by detectives at a rural location in the Blackwood area on Wednesday evening.

The operation led to the arrests of two men and two women from Blackwood along with two men from the London area.

A third man in the London area was also arrested yesterday evening. Detective Inspector Steve Webber, the head of the Gwent Police Drugs Squad, led the investigation and said he was "extremely pleased" with the result.

He said: "This has been a very significant operation - there is no doubt about that. We have seized the largest ever haul of amphetamine sulphate in Wales.

"My team of 35 detectives have been working on this for the past 10 months and the result is very rewarding for everyone involved in the operation.

"The removal and dismantling of this drug trafficking network will have a significant impact on the availability of controlled drugs being distributed in the communities of South Wales."

He added: "The operation is part of the co-ordinated response to drug trafficking and organised crime undertaken by Dyfed Powys, South Wales, and Gwent Police forces under the banner of Operation Tarian."

Amphetamine sulphate is regarded as the most impure illegal drug in Britain - the purity of street powders is less than 10 per cent.

High doses of it can lead to paranoia and continued heavy use can lead to mental illness such as psychosis.

Blackwood councillor Kevin Etheridge said: "I'm very worried and concerned that such a large quantity of drugs was seized in the vicinity of our town. "I'm pleased that Gwent police have made a positive breakthrough and that arrests have been made."