A BARRY drugs dealer who videoed himself speaking to Universal Credit while holding bundles of cash has been jailed.
On Thursday, 16th January, Iestyn Raven (24) appeared at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court where he was jailed after pleading guilty for the supply of heroin, being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine, and acquiring criminal property.
A series of other drugs arrests led South Wales Police (SWP) officers to the man behind the ‘Ronnie and Reggie’ drug line, which supplied crack cocaine and heroin throughout the Vale of Glamorgan.
When officers searched the house Raven was living in, one of the drug phones under investigation was found in a bedside drawer. Crack cocaine, heroin, cash and high-value designer clothing were also recovered.
On one of Raven’s phones, police discovered that he had filmed himself speaking to Universal Credit. In the footage, he picks up a large bundle of cash and speaks into it as though it is a phone saying, ‘I am struggling I am for money right now’, while gesturing and laughing into the camera.
A spokesperson for SWP said: “Not so funny now laughing drug dealer filmed with fistful of money finds himself jailed.
“The money in his hand is drug money. Sometime after this recording, Iestyn Raven was arrested by South Wales Police.
“Raven was charged with being concerned in the supply of heroin, being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine, and acquiring criminal property and went on to plead guilty.
“On Thursday, January 16, he appeared for sentencing at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court where he was jailed for 3 years and 4 months.”
Detective Inspector Tim Jones 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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