A GANG of Newport men who took part in Wales' biggest ever drug-running operation were sentenced to a total of more than 20 years.

The men were sentenced today at Newport Crown Court for their involvement in importing 200,000 ecstasy pills, worth an estimated £800,000, from Belgium.

All seven men previously pleaded guilty to their roles in the drug smuggling operation.

David Perry, 23, of Cromwell Road, received a seven year sentence for conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.

Lee Jones, 24, of Henry Wood Close, and Nathan Rees, 20, of Fairfax Road, received three years imprisonment for conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.

Michael O'Connor, 23, of Moorfield Place was jailed for three years on one count of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, with an additional 30 months imprisonment for a second count, and 30 months for conspiracy to supply Class B drugs (amphetamine sulphate).

The three sentences will be served concurrently.

Daniel Thomas, 23, of Aberthaw Road, received a 33 month sentence for conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.

Joshua Henshaw, 18, of Hendre Farm Drive, who was 17 at the time of the incident, was sentenced to two years in a young offenders' institute for conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.

Gerrard Waters, 25, of Godfrey Road, received a nine month sentence suspended for two years, a two year supervision order and a 150 hour community sentence for allowing his premises to be used for the supply or attempted supply of controlled drugs.

Read the full story on this case in tomorrow's Argus.