A Welsh-led international drugs gang which laundered almost �3m in cash has been smashed following a long-running investigation.

Five south Wales members of the gang, including leader Paul Jeffreys, 39, from Llanelli, had admitted conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and money laundering at Swansea Crown Court.

Three other gang members from Kent were also convicted of drugs or money laundering offences.

All eight will be sentenced next month.

Acting NCS Branch Commander Bryan Jenkins

The jury heard that the gang ran the cocaine, heroin and ecstasy-smuggling operation like an international business and enjoyed jet-set lifestyles before the National Criminal Intelligence Service (NCIS) swooped.

Jeffreys and his girlfriend Lucy Kift, 22, were the manager and personal assistant of the operation and often stayed at expensive London hotels and aboard yachts in Spain.

Tip-off

But the gang was caught when a clerk at a London bureau de change tipped off the police after he became suspicious of the large amounts of money being changed by them into Dutch gilders.

On one occasion, �250,000 was exchanged in one go at the central London bureau in a bid to hide the illicit origins of the drugs cash.

Following the tip-off, NCIS - the British equivalent of America's FBI - trailed the gang for two years, during which time they laundered a total of �2,960,867 in drugs cash.

Six people admitted conspiracy to supply drugs and money laundering charges:-

• Paul Jeffreys, 39, from Llanelli
  
• Lucy Kift, 22, from Llanelli
  
• Steven Summers, 38, from Llanelli
  
• Alan Thomas, 37, from Pontardawe
  
• Richard Hughes, from, Llansamlet, Swansea
• Freddy Lawrence, 35, from Folkestone

A seventh man, Leslie West, 34, of Folkestone, admitted conspiring to launder money.

The eighth member of the gang, Jason Anthony Flisher of Folkestone, denied conspiracy to supply class A drugs, but was found guilty by a jury.

Two other men, Michael Samuel, 33, from Gorseinon, and Trevor Millard, 36, from Folkestone, were found not guilty to conspiring to import controlled drugs.

To crack the ring, the NCIS launched Operation Darwin, involving high levels of surveillance

Impact

Acting Branch Commander for the NCS in Wales, Bryan Jenkins, said that smashing the gang's activities would have a major impact on the availability of drugs in south and west Wales.

He added: "In terms of impact on drugs availability, this is the NCIS' biggest-ever operation in Wales.

"It has had a major impact on the amount of drugs found on the streets of Llanelli, south Wales and Kent.

"Jeffreys was the leader - his house in Llanelli was externally modest, but internally it had been furnished to a high standard.

Other criminals will come to take their place

NCS' Bryan Jenkins

"Photos found at the house showed that he enjoyed a lavish lifestyle with regular trips to Spain and Holland.

"When he went to London, he usually stayed in hotels costing �300 to �400 a night."

Jeffreys and the other gang members face jail terms but Mr Jenkins warned that other criminals would look to take over the supply of drugs to Llanelli and south Wales.

He said: "This is a good result for the NCIS, but we can't become complacent.

"Whenever we take someone out, there are business opportunities for other criminals.

"Someone will come to take their place."