A courier worked for an organised crime gang (OCG) which saw thousands of pounds worth of cocaine being transported to south Wales from London. The OCG operated in Cardiff, Swansea, and nearby areas including Port Talbot, with a cannabis farm also found in Lampeter.
Qazim Hodollari, 38, was involved with the transportation of cocaine from London to Swansea and on two dates he transported cash from Swansea to London. Mirsad Nerguti, 21, was seen entering a car with a known courier with a package, later found to contain 2kg of cocaine and £550, and left the car shortly later empty-handed.
The defendants were the last two to be sentenced as part of Operation Bluebell, which saw police investigating an OCG which distributed large amounts of cocaine throughout south Wales. Almost £600,000 worth of cocaine (7kg) and £175,000 worth of cannabis (18kg) were found by police in a long and complex investigation.
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A cannabis farm in Lampeter was found to have cultivated drugs with a street value of more than £500,000. Seven of the nine were brought before Cardiff Crown Court for sentencing on January 10 following an investigation from Tarian, the organised crime unit for south Wales. Hodollari and Nerguti were sentenced on Monday.
The Tarian investigation saw paraphernalia seized along with approximately £100,000 cash, around 1,000 cannabis plants, 18kg of cannabis, 7kg of cocaine, as well as cash-counting machines and industrial weighing scales.
Detective sergeant Peter Kelly said: "Klodian Zefi, Fation Bardhaj, and Bardhok Bardhoj worked together in Cardiff facilitating the supply of the cocaine. Their customer bases included Swansea and the Port Talbot areas.
"Gregory Hardy headed the Swansea-based OCG. He had access to a business unit in Gorseinon, Swansea. When this was searched, a hydraulic press along with other drug paraphernalia and empty kilogram-sized cocaine wrappings were seized.
"Elon Joseph worked for Hardy and was often seen visiting the business unit in Gorseinon as well as frequently meeting with Bardhok Bardhoj in Swansea and Cardiff. Hardy was also responsible for setting up the cannabis farm in Lampeter. When production of cannabis began it was Bardhoj who was responsible for the ‘gardening’ and maintenance of the plants.
"David Price worked as a courier for the group in and around the Port Talbot and Pyle areas. He was seen meeting with Bardhok Bardhoj and Fation Bardhaj in various locations where bags and packages were exchanged. Qazim Hodollari worked as a courier and was responsible for travelling from the London area to deliver drugs to douth Wales and collect cash.
"Mirsad Nerguti was based in London. On one occasion Bardhok Bardhoj arranged for Abdi Lekaj to travel from Cardiff to London to meet Nerguti. When Lekaj travelled back to south Wales he was arrested and found to be in possession of two kilograms of cocaine. Forensic evidence linked Mirsad Nerguti to this seizure."
Nerguti, of Manor House, London, was sentenced to six years and six months imprisonment. Hodollari, of Edgware, London, was sentenced to seven years and eight months imprisonment.
This is the full list of sentences handed out by Cardiff Crown Court on Tuesday, January 9:
- Fation Bardhaj, 39, from Penylan, Cardiff: 13 years and six months
Klodian Zefi, 35, from Roath, Cardiff: 14 years
Gregory Hardy, 34, from Waunarlwydd, Swansea: 14 years
Elon Joseph, 34, from Waunarlwydd, Swansea: Nine years
Bardhok Bardhoj, 51, from Cilcennin, Ceridigion: 19 years
David Price, 50, from Kenfig Hill, Bridgend: Nine years
Abdi Lekaj, 62, from Roath, Cardiff: 14 years and four months
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