Eight people have been jailed for a total of 70 years after being found guilty of running a multi-million pound drugs and money laundering empire.

Seven men and one woman had �3m worth of cocaine and ecstasy shipped from Holland and Spain to south Wales.

The gang's leader, former car dealer Paul Jeffreys from Llanelli, south west Wales, was sentenced to 16 years in jail after admitting conspiracy to import drugs.

Bags of ecstasy were recovered by police

The other defendants, four of whom also came from the Swansea and Llanelli areas, received sentences ranging from 14 years to three years.

Speaking at the sentencing in Swansea Crown Court, Justice John Diehl told the gang they had made huge gains from trading in misery and brought a blight and scourge to society.

He said Jeffreys had played for high stakes and lost.

His girlfriend, Lucy Kift, 22, was jailed for three years after hearing she had "gained little for the operation apart from sorrow".

Three other defendants from Wales received substantial jail terms:

• Alan Thomas, 37, from Pontardawe, sentenced to seven years
• Richard Hughes from Llansamlet, sentenced to 10 years
• Steven Summers, 38 from Llanelli, sentenced to six years.

The gang were only caught after a huge police surveillance operation which involved officers working undercover.

The jury was told the gang enjoyed jet-set lifestyles before the National Criminal Intelligence Service (NCIS) caught up with them.

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 into Dutch guilders.

On one occasion, �250,000 was exchanged in one go at the central London bureau in an attempt to disguise the origins of the money.

Following the tip-off, NCIS trailed the gang for two years, during which time they laundered a a total of �2,960,867.

People who have peddled these kinds of substances can expect long sentences from the courts

Bryan Jenkins, NCIS

All five Welsh gang members and a Folkestone man, Freddy Lawrence, 35, admitted conspiracy to supply drugs, and money laundering charges.

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

The eight 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 were acquitted of conspiring to import controlled drugs.

'Calculating'

Acting branch commander for the NCIS in Wales, Bryan Jenkins, was pleased with the sentences.

"It reflects the seriousness of the offences involved," he said.

"They are substantial sentences and the enormity of what they've done and the enormity of their sentences will now be impacting on the defendants.

"Controlled drugs of this nature have a devastating effect on the community.

"People who have peddled these kinds of substances can expect long sentences from the courts.

"This was a highly-organised and calculating group of people set on funding their luxury lifestyles by importing large quantities of Class A drugs for widespread distribution."