Jail for Barry drug dealer

South Wales Police

A drug dealer who supplied crack cocaine and heroin across the Vale of Glamorgan has been jailed.

Iestyn Raven from Barry, who ran the 'Ronnie and Reggie' drug line, was caught following a series of arrests by organised crime officers.

The 24 year-old was filmed laughing and picking up a bundle of cash while on the phone to Universal Credit, claiming he was "skint" and "struggling".

South Wales Police said he was living a life of relative luxury at the expense of others.

The footage, found on a phone linked to him showed Raven saying: "I am struggling I am for money right now" while gesturing and laughing into the camera.

Merthyr Crown Court heard detectives had identified Raven after he was caught on CCTV topping up mobile data for one of the phones he used to sell drugs.

He was arrested at the McDonald's drive-thru in Barry on 30th September 2024, after being spotted in the passenger seat of a car.

A subsequent search of his home led to police finding one of the drug phones in a bedside drawer. Crack cocaine, heroin, cash and high-value designer clothing was also seized.

In court, Raven pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of heroin and crack cocaine and acquriing criminal property.

He was sentencted to three years and four months in prison.

Following sentencing on Wednesday, Detective Inspector Tim Jones of South Wales Police said: "Iestyn Raven was making a substantial amount of money from his drug dealing and living a life of relative luxury at the expense of others."

"His contemptuous disregard for the damage he was causing is plain to see - he certainly isn’t laughing now and he deserves to be in prison where he can reflect on the path he chose for himself and the misery he has inflicted through his drug dealing."

“Rest assured we will be using the Proceeds of Crime Act to ensure he doesn’t benefit from any ill-gotten gains when he is released."

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