A former Wrexham AFC trialist has been jailed for his role in an organised crime gang. Kaid Mohamed was one of seven men who were involved in the sale of wholesale amounts of cocaine across South Wales.
The gang was jailed for a total of 47 years last month. Mohamed spent some time on trial at Wrexham in 2007, impressing then manager Brian Carey with a string of impressive pre-season displays.
Despite the Dragons being keen to sign him, he eventually joined Swindon Town before going on to play for the likes of Forest Green Rovers, Newport County and Port Vale. He has now been jailed for 11 and a half years.
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As reported by Wales Online, cocaine worth a total street value of £400,000 was recovered during a police operation. Joshua Matthews, 27, headed up the gang having bought drugs from several upstream suppliers.
He was seen by police receiving a bag containing 4kg of cocaine from associate Vincent Aquilina, 25, at an address in Cardiff on July 21. A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on September 22 heard Matthews placed the bag in a Range Rover, but was arrested a short time later on the A4119 in Miskin following a police chase which caused damage to 20 cars and caused injuries to people on the road.
![Top row (L-R): Vincent Aquilina, Joshua Matthews, Kaid Mohamed
Bottom row (L-R): Jacob Bates, Jamie Higgins, Jacob Howells-Santos](https://i2-prod.walesonline.co.uk/incoming/article27904873.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/0_Untitled-design.jpg)
The bag of cocaine was recovered and the address in Cardiff was searched where a further 1.5kg of cocaine and 3kg of cannabis bush were discovered. A phone linked to Matthews was examined and was found to contain text messages with evidence of significant drug dealing.
The investigation, named Operation Cruz, was carried out by Tarian, the regional organised crime unit for South Wales. The matter was brought to court, with seven defendants jailed for their part in the conspiracy.
![Cocaine found in possession of an organised crime group headed by Joshua Matthews](https://i2-prod.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/article27904467.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/0_PDR_ECH_131023OrganisedCrimeGroup.jpg)
Detective Chief Inspector Lloyd Williams, of Tarian ROCU, said: “These men were intent on allowing vast quantities of Class A drugs to permeate the communities of southern Wales. Thanks to the relentless efforts of a dedicated team of investigators, they were apprehended and have subsequently been handed significant sentences. It is hoped that these sentences will serve as a deterrent to anyone else who is involved in, or thinking of becoming involved in, the dealing of drugs.”
Sentences
- Joshua Matthews, of The Drive, Miskin, Pontyclun, was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for conspiracy to supply class A drugs and dangerous driving.
- Vincent Aquilina, of Grand Avenue, Ely, was sentenced to seven years and three months imprisonment for conspiracy to supply class A drugs.
- Kaid Mohamed, 39, of Heol Poyston, Caerau, was sentenced to 11 years and six months imprisonment for conspiracy to supply class A drugs.
- Jacob Bates, 29, of Shifnal, Shropshire, was sentenced to four years and nine months imprisonment for conspiracy to supply class A drugs.
- Jamie Higgins, 22, of Telford, was sentenced to four years and six months imprisonment for conspiracy to supply class A drugs.
- Alan Wills, 57, of Heol y Berllan, Caerau, was sentenced to four years and six months imprisonment for conspiracy to supply class A drugs and possession with intent to supply cannabis.
- Jacob Howells-Santos, 31, of Cardiff, was sentenced to four years and three months imprisonment for conspiracy to supply class A drugs and permitting supply of class A drugs on premises.