Lewisham dealer who flooded South Wales with crack cocaine and heroin as 11 men jailed

A South London gang member behind a large-scale drugs supply operation flooding South Wales with crack cocaine and heroin has been jailed. Khadar Mire starts a 15-years and four-month sentence after he was caught selling drugs to an organised crime group responsible for bringing Class A's to the Welsh region through a network of dealers and couriers.

South Wales Police launched Operation Solidago in response to drug distribution on their patch, focusing initially on the activities of Tufial Akthar, from Cardiff. In 2021, Akthar met with three other defendants to hand over a kilo of cocaine which was later seized by police. In the days before there were telephone calls between the defendants and other OCG members.

Throughout September and October 2021, Akthar called Mire, a known drug supplier from London. On November 22, Hafiz Aslam, a drugs courier, drove to Mire's home address area. On his return he was stopped with 4.5 kilos of heroin. When police eventually got to Akthar's house, they found £500 in cash, a money counting machine, scales with traces of drugs, and Cartier and Rolex watches.

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A total of 5.25 kilograms of heroin and 1.5 kilograms of cocaine were seized as part of Operation Solidago. The total street value of the drugs recovered, which police say was just a snapshot of what the organised crime group were trading, is estimated to be between £157,510 and £219,680.

• Tufial Akthar (also known as Mohamed Ali), 41, of Cardiff - 17 years and six months in prison for conspiracy to supply class A drugs.

• Khadar Mire, 37, of Lewisham - 15 years and four months in prison for conspiracy to supply class A drugs.

• Ethan James, 29, of Llanelli - 10 years in prison for conspiracy to supply class A drugs.

• Abdi Dualeh, 29, of Cardiff - nine years and six months in prison for conspiracy to supply class A drugs.

• Mohamoud Goth, 39, of Cardiff - nine years and two months in prison for conspiracy to supply class A drugs.

• Jamie Davies, 30, of Llanelli - eight years in prison for conspiracy to supply class A drugs.

• Leighton Morris, 53, of Britton Ferry - seven years and two months in prison for conspiracy to supply class A drugs.

• Dominic Isaacs, 34, of Newport - seven years in prison for conspiracy to supply class A drugs.

• Grant Clarke, 29, of Gorseinon - five years and eight months in prison for possession of a class A drug with intent to supply – cocaine.

• Hafiz Aslam, 36, of Cardiff - five years in prison for possession of a class A drug with intent to supply – heroin.

• Rhydian Charles, 27, of Llanelli - four years and five months in prison for conspiracy to supply class A drugs.

• Aurelia Sterian, 28, of Cardiff - community order.

Andrew Jones, KC for the prosecution, said: “This was a complex investigation involving experienced criminals with a knowledge of police tactics. However, the police have worked tirelessly to gather compelling evidence of their wrongdoing.”

Detective Inspector Andrew Gibbins, of Tarian, said: “Operation Solidago is an excellent example of how determined police officers can utilise multiple resources and tactics to take down those who pedal drugs to the most vulnerable in our communities. This was a large-scale investigation, and I would like to thank all who were involved in this outcome.”

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