Two brothers from Newport have been jailed for their role in supplying class A drugs as part of an organised crime network operating in the Gwent area.
Sean and Micheal Ahern were sentenced at Cardiff Crown Court yesterday on two counts of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs between August 2016 and March 2017. Sean Ahern pleaded guilty during the trial, with Micheal Ahern also being found guilty of the same two offences.
Sean Ahern 32 of Wivenhoe Road in Alway , Newport, was sentenced to 8 years in prison, while younger brother Micheal, 31 of Hendre farm drive Newport, was sentenced to 6 years. He also received an 18 month sentence to run concurrently for possession of criminal property – £20,00 that was seized by police when he was arrested.
The pair were arrested and charged following an extensive operation carried out by the Serious and Organised Crime Unit, part of the Gwent Serious Crime Directorate.
The operation had been running since December 2013 and was centred on the activities of an organised crime group operating within Newport. The crime group supplied high purity cocaine to a network of dealers, with Sean Ahearn at its head.
Following a police operation officers executed warrants on June 24 2016 at the home addresses of both of the brothers, where they were arrested.
Micheal Ahern had originally attempted to run out of the house naked when police first attempted to arrest him, being apprehended in the back garden. A bag of cocaine he had tried to dispose of during the chase was later located by a sniffer dog.
DCI Stuart Smith led the investigation. He said: “This was an excellent result for my team who are committed to disrupting organised crime gangs and protecting the people of Newport.
“Sean Ahern gave the appearance that he was a respectable businessman whilst leaving his younger brother Micheal to do his dirty work.
“Newport is a safer place now these two have been jailed. The money seized under the Proceeds of Crime Act and will be used across policing to protect the people of the county.”
He added: “The officers worked hard over a long period of time on this investigation. Their efforts have been repaid by this result and those involved have been commended by the judge for their efforts.”