SINCE the start of 2016 eight people have been imprisoned for a total of 23 years, after being caught in possession of drugs destined for the streets of Barry and the Vale of Glamorgan.

Through a series of police operations, including early morning raids, stop-checks and foot chases, thousands of pounds worth of class A and B drugs have been seized.

Julian Ashley, 23, and Declan Thomas, 22, both from Cardiff but with criminal links to areas including Barry, were sentenced to 30 months each at Cardiff Crown Court on January 4 after being stopped by police and found to be in possession of ‘deal bags’ of heroin in December.

On January 12, Phillip Anthony Seaborne, 43, from Bridgend, was sentenced to three years for supplying drugs after being caught carrying heroin and MDMA on Cowbridge Street in Barry in November.

On January 13, a 16-year-old male was sent to a young offenders institute for 32 months, after an incident in Cowslip Drive, Cogan where he was caught in possession of a kilogramme of cocaine.

On August 5, 2015, the teenager jumped out of a vehicle which failed to stop for police in Cowslip Drive, Cogan. He led police on a foot chase, using train tracks to get away, but was arrested soon after at Eastbrook train station. Officers discovered the drugs at a house in Cardiff which they searched after his arrest.

Four men from Liverpool were sentenced to 12 years behind bars for possessing heroin with intent to supply in the area. They were arrested in Bridgend with more than £10,000 worth of the class A drug.

South Wales Police Superintendent Gary Osborne said: "This year has started very positively - we’ve successfully prosecuted a number of people and it sends out a strong message that we won’t tolerate drug dealing.

“It shows that we take action on the information we get. We will arrest those who live in, and travel to, or through, this region in order to ply their evil trade and put them before the courts.

“People may have their suspicions and I would urge them to act on them and contact us – members of our communities really are essential in the fight against drugs.”

Anyone who does have any information about drug dealing in their community should contact South Wales Police via 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.