An organised criminal network responsible for the supply for class A drugs across Barry have been jailed for a total of twenty-nine and a half years.

The gang, led by Dalton Raffell (left), operated drugs lines which supplied crack cocaine and heroin and exploited children as young as 15.

Drugs lines linked to Raffell were uncovered by detectives while forensically examining a mobile phone as part of a separate investigation.

They were able to identify Raffell as the line’s principle holder and also trace his accomplices.

Dalton Raffell and four others appeared at Cardiff Crown Court to be sentenced on December 23, 2025.

Dalton Raffell, 24, of Clare Road, Cardiff, was jailed for nine years for conspiring to supply heroin and conspiring to arrange of facilitate travel of another with a view to exploitation.

Chiko Moyo (right), 21, was jailed for nine and half years for conspiring to supply heroin, two counts of conspiring to arrange or facilitate travel of another with a view to exploitation, and two counts of conspiring to require a person to perform forced or compulsory labour.

Jonathan Beasley, 54 (left), of Caernarvon Gardens, Barry, was jailed for seven and a half years for conspiring to supply heroin.

Daniel Groves, 24 (right), was jailed for three and a half years for conspiring to supply heroin and possessing with intent to supply cocaine.

Kelly-Ann Hocking, 33, of Shelley Gardens, Barry, also convicted of conspiring to supply heroin and conspiring to arrange or facilitate travel of another with a view to exploitation, is due to be sentenced in March next year.

Ashton Watkins, 18, of Crossways Road, Ely, who was convicted of conspiring to supply heroin, will be sentenced in January.

Senior Investigating Officer, Temporary Detective Chief Inspector Tim Jones, said:

“Raffell and his accomplices were behind the supply of significant amounts of class A drugs. What makes their offences even worse is their exploitation of children – they didn’t think twice about putting them in danger and at serious risk, for their own greed and profit.

“The sad reality is that the exploitation of young children by drugs gangs is common practice – dealers will identify the most vulnerable in our communities and put them in harm’s way while running things in the background. This is happening today, in communities across south Wales, and we all have a responsibility and a moral obligation to look for the signs of exploitation and act on them. In doing so, we are putting the dealers behind bars but also rescuing and safeguarding children who for whatever reason have found themselves in the grip of what is a miserable and dangerous existence at the hands of criminals.”

Anyone who has information about drug dealing is urged to report them to 101 or they can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. We will act on the information given to us.