Drugs courier was 'vital cog in vile trade'

A DRUGS courier, who was caught bringing cocaine worth more than £12,000 into Swansea has been jailed for two years.

The judge told Carl Mitford he had contributed to an "evil" and "vile trade".

Carl Mitford, 32, admitted being a courier, employed to bring drugs — which could have been sold as 247 separate deals — from Manchester to Swansea.

Judge Paul Thomas told him: "You were a vital cog in the vile trade that was being carried out," he said.

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"Being a courier, bringing this evil trade from the North of England to South West Wales is a vital one. The main suppliers don't take these risks, they leave it to other like yourself," he added.

Swansea Crown Court heard Mitford was stopped by police at Ross Spur services on the A449. He told officers the Vauxhall Vectra he was driving was not his. He said he had been to Manchester to see his sister and there was nothing illegal in the car.

The car was searched at Swansea Central police station and officers found a plastic wrap containing 28.3g of cocaine.

When it was tested, it was found to be 77 per cent purity. A second, smaller wrap, containing 0.014g of cocaine was also found by officers.

Mitford, of Berwyn Place, Penlan, later admitted he had been a courier whose job was to transport the drugs from Manchester to Swansea.

He said the terms of the deal meant he would receive 3g of the drug for himself.

Swansea Crown Court was told in Swansea, cocaine is usually sold at 11 per cent purity, lower than the national average of 28 per cent purity.

Specialist drugs officers had calculated that the drug, when split into individual sales and reduced in its purity could have made 247 separate deals.

Prosecutor Creighton Harvey said the drugs would have had a street value of between £9,880 and £12,350.

John Hipkin, representing Mitford, said his client, who admitted possessing class A drugs with intent to supply, had no previous convictions for supplying drugs.

"These matters were committed by a very difficult period in his life," said Mr Hipkin.

No separate penalty was imposed after Mitford admitted possessing cannabis, found during a search at the police station.