Net closed in around Welsh drug gang boss as he fled to Spain and South America
An organised crime gang (OCG) leader fled to Spain before moving onto Venezuela and Colombia. His co-conspirators were also found in possession of £50,000 worth of cocaine and £38,000 which were concealed inside a book.
Paul Harris, 28, ran the OCG, involved in the sale of commercial amounts of cocaine and ketamine, which was based in southeast Wales. It was the subject of an investigation by Gwent Police. A raid was carried out at a property in Chepstow in February 2021 which resulted in the seizure of 28g of cocaine.
Mobile phones were seized which were found to contain messages linking Harris and others in the supply of controlled drugs, a sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Wednesday heard, reports WalesOnline.
Following the arrest of his co-conspirators Harris left the UK in June 2021 and travelled to Spain where he continued to run the drugs operation.
The defendant then travelled to South America where he initially arrived in Venezuela before settling in Colombia.
A month later a further arrest took place when Harris' associate Peter Wright and his partner were stopped in a car and found in possession of cocaine and ketamine worth more than £30,000.
Another phone was seized which again linked Harris as the leader of the drugs operation, both sourcing and supplying wholesale quantities of cocaine and ketamine.
He was involved in multi-kilogram deals and was considered to have "substantial influence" upon others in the chain.
Sentencing, Judge Lucy Crowther said: "You were close to the original source and involved in the buying and selling on a commercial scale and had expectation of financial advantage on a substantial scale."
A sentencing hearing of Harris' co-defendants, including Matthew Nicholas, 36, Ashley Bollen, 34, Peter Wright, 33, Andrew Harris, 50, and Helga Boehm, 48, heard eight raids were carried out between February and October 2021 in Monmouthshire which led to seizures of drugs, cash, and mobile phones.
More than £50,000 worth of cocaine, cannabis, amphetamine, and ketamine was seized along with more than £40,000 in cash, £38,000 of which was found in a money safe disguised as a book.
Harris also involved his mother and stepfather in the enterprise but abandoned them and left them to their fate after fleeing the country.
The defendant, of no fixed abode, later pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A and B drugs. The court heard he has eight previous convictions including an offence of supplying cannabis.
In mitigation Julia Cox said her client was not "wanted" when he left the UK and made efforts to return to face the matters against him.
The barrister said the defendant made arrangements to return via Spain but had issues after his German passport had expired leading to liaison with multiple embassies.
He was initially arrested in Spain and spent time in custody before he was extradited back to the UK. Ms Cox said the defendant has a four-year-old daughter with whom he has been unable to build a relationship.
Judge Crowther told Harris he alone was to blame for the lack of contact with his daughter and said he had "abandoned her".
The defendant was sentenced to a total of eight years and eight months imprisonment.
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