EIGHT people who were part of a “well-organised crime network” which arranged the supply of cocaine  Newport and surrounding areas were put behind bars for a total of more than 61 years.

The group consisted of Darren Dally, 34, of Edward German Crescent, Newport; Anthony McNamee, 30, of Lliswerry Park Drive, Newport, who had pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A Cocaine; Ryan McNamee, 24, of Dunstable Road, Newport, who had pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A Cocaine; Gary Taylor, 29, of Risca Road, Newport, who had pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A Cocaine; Nicholas Moss, 45, of Wye Crescent, Newport, who was convicted of conspiracy to supply Class A Cocaine; Jonathan Appleton, 31, of Balfe Road, Newport, who had pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A Cocaine; Sanjeev Borra, 44, of George House, Kent, who had pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A Cocaine; and Neil Seer, 33, of Britton Close, Newport, who had pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A Cocaine.

Newport Crown Court heard that the group operated on a "hierarchical basis" to supply directly to users through a series of drug lines run by street dealers and to supply wholesale amounts to dealers.

Prosecutor Janet McDonald said: “The group operated on a hierarchical basis to supply directly to end users through a series of drug lines and through street dealers.

“The group took precautions and frequently changed phones, minimised the written word and used others to store incriminating phones, drugs and money.

"And they had a chain of command with Anthony McNamee, who was at the top. He maintained overall control of the finances.

“Mr Sangee Boror brought the cocaine to the group from the Midlands area.”

Ms McDonald said that Dally’s role was to launder part of the vast sums of money generated by this enterprise through his now-defunct car business and Moss, Seer and Appleton were “suppliers for the group”.

She added that Taylor was a "valued customer, purchasing thousands of pounds worth of cocaine".

They were later arrested as part of Gwent Police’s Operation Divide investigation in 2018.

Sentencing, Judge Daniel Williams said: “I give those of you who pleaded guilty maximum credit.

“The fact is each of you went into the conspiracy with your eyes open, knowing you were playing for high stake and knowing if you lost, it would not be just you who lost , but those who cared and love you.”

Anthony McNamee was sentenced to 10 years in prison, Ryan McNamee was sentenced to seven years and four months, Sheer was sentenced to eight years, Borra was sentenced to six years, Appleton was sentenced to six years, Taylor was sentenced to six years, Moss was sentenced to 12 years, and Dally was sentenced to five years.

Commenting on the sentences, Detective Inspector Andrew Tuck, who leads the Serious and Organised Crime team for Gwent Police, said: “These sentences are the culmination of over a year’s worth of meticulous work to disrupt, dismantle and bring to justice to this organised crime group.

“Criminals involved in serious organised crime are a daily threat to our communities.

“The criminality associated with large scale drug supply can include serious violence and fraud, to name but a few, have enormous consequences in our communities – which far too often, people don’t see as part of the bigger picture of serious organised crime.

“Seeing the huge wealth generated by criminals who can lead extravagant lifestyles can also be corrosive and dispiriting for our hard working, law abiding residents.

“The lengthy prison sentences these offenders will serve should act as warning to other criminals in the Gwent area that we are working to dismantle these most serious criminal networks and next time, we could be coming to your door.”