The police operation has led to gang members being sentenced to a combined 128 years
Organised crime gang members have been put behind bars after the group plotted to flood Class A and Class B drugs across North Wales. Sentencing has taken place at Mold Crown Court and Caernarfon Crown Court between November 2024 and March 2026, and 17 defendants have received custodial sentences amounting to a combined 128 years.
Reporting restrictions remained in place throughout the proceedings, which concluded yesterday (Wednesday, March 11). Multiple arrests were carried out in September 2023, following an extensive operation targeting drug distribution in the Wrexham and Flintshire regions.
Named “Operation Lardy”, a comprehensive covert investigation into a suspected Class A and Class B drugs conspiracy was conducted over a six-month timeframe, reports North Wales Live.
Officers and detectives from North Wales Police received support from colleagues at the National Crime Agency (NCA) and the Regional Organised Crime Unit (ROCU) during the operation.
Taking place over three days, a sequence of coordinated warrants were carried out at more than 20 addresses throughout Wrexham and Flintshire. A total of 20 individuals were arrested during the raids, which saw three people arrested at Manchester Airport.
Substantial amounts of drugs, cash, weapons and mobile phones were recovered during these raids. Officers’ seizures included a quantity of cocaine, believed to be valued at more than £150,000, alongside cannabis with an estimated street value surpassing £20,000.
The charges subsequently brought against the accused centred on a conspiracy to supply Class A and Class B drugs spanning the period between April 2022 and September 2023.
Pictures of 16 of the defendants with their respective sentences are listed below.
Meanwhile, Samantha Harrill, 39, of Heol Y Plas, Cefn Mawr, received a three-year community order for conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.
Hilary Vaughan, 49, of Wrenbury Court, Cefn Mawr, Lucy Williams, 27, of Cunliffe Walk, Wrexham, and Roxanne McCarthy, 35, of Bodlyn, Acrefair, were each handed suspended sentences for their roles in utilising third-party bank accounts to enable payments for controlled substances.
Devan Lewis, 25, of Bryn Maelor, Southsea, was also issued with a suspended sentence for being concerned in the acquisition/ retention/use or control of criminal property.
DS Dave Evans of North Wales Police said: “This is an exceptional result, with the defendants sentenced to a combined 128 years in prison. During the investigation, our officers acted on intelligence gathered by the NCA and ROCU in relation to the supply of illegal drugs, specifically cocaine, in north east Wales.
“As well as the substantial sentences that were handed down, our investigation resulted in significant high-value drug seizures, which ensured that these illegal substances were taken off the streets.
“An estimated £550,000 was also laundered through the accounts of suspects as part of this drug conspiracy, with these assets now seized under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
“Illegal drugs have a hugely detrimental impact on communities, so cutting off supplies and removing those responsible for drug dealing from our communities is of huge importance to us.
“Our communities should not have to live among drug dealers, and we are committed to ensuring that we identify, locate, and remove these offenders.
“I hope these recent sentences reassure residents that we are doing all we can to tackle offending of this nature, while also serving as a warning to those who choose to be involved in drugs offences that you will be caught and brought to justice.
“We would urge anyone who has any information regarding drug dealing or other organised crimes taking place in their communities to come forward so we can get dangerous individuals off the street.”
