TWO men who were caught "red handed" in possession of heroin worth £200,000 were jailed for seven years.

David Prince, 33, of Maesglas Close, Newport and David Clarke, 25, of Gaer Vale, Newport, each admitted conspiring to supply two kilograms of the drug.

Cardiff Crown court heard Clarke brought the drug from another city to Newport and Prince arranged for it to be stored.

Prosecutor Tom Crowther said that on February 8, the two men were seen in their vehicles meeting outside a gym in Enterprise Way, Newport.

Police later followed Prince to Albion Close, Pill, where he took a carrier bag containing the drugs from Clarke.

Officers searched a nearby garden, where they believed thed rugs were hidden, and found the carrier bag, inside which were four blocks of heroin weighing over 2 kilograms of high purity worth an estimated £200,000.

It was revealed that day there had been 16 mobile phone calls between them.

When interviewed, said Mr Crowther, neither made any comment.

Judge John Curran told them "Heroin is the most pernicious of Class A drugs. The curse of heroin addiction has spread throughout the whole of the United Kingdom."

The affect of the drug, said the judge, apart from the misery of addiction is that it can lead to a crimewave and damages the fabric of society."

"You two were caught red-handed playing your part in the conspiracy" he said.

He said had the drugs not been seized by the police they could have caused great harm on the streets of Newport.

Prince was said to have convictions for possessing ecstasy and for arson, and Clarke had a conviction for possessing heroin with intent to supply.

Prince's counsel, Harry Baker said "A lengthy time in custody is inevitable. He had been asked to look after the drugs for a time, that was his role in the chain."

Jeffrey Jones, for Clarke, said he was a courier.

The heroin, discovered in four boxes containing half a kilogram each had a purity of 95 per cent, which is exceptionally high.

It had an estimated street value of more than £200,000 but that was in an uncut state so potentially it could have had a greater value.

A police spokesman said they were very pleased with the sentence.

"It is quite clear that the judge in the case realised the severity of it and sentenced on that basis."

"The reality is that a lot of people use this drug which is a killer."

ENDS