TWO drug barons who played a vital role in a nationwide cocaine conspiracy worth millions of pounds have been sent to jail.

Pub landlord David Carl Richards, of Garth Road, Rhydyfro, Pontardawe, and Keri Lyn Pritchard, of Alltywen Road, Pontardawe, were described as being "regional distributors" for a criminal network based in Kent.

Cardiff Crown Court heard the pair enjoyed lavish lifestyles while peddling misery from the trade of legal drugs.

A 23-year-old Swansea man, Adam Horton of Mansel Terrace, was Richards's personal assistant — and was paid in cocaine. He too has been sent to prison. The three men were part of an organised gang consisting of 10, led by Darren Quick from Kent, who even directed operations while in prison.

Judge Stephen Hopkins said: "The aim was to make as much money from the evil trade of drugs as possible.

"Cocaine is highly addictive and the addiction of which causes misery and degradation as well as leading to serious health and mental problems.

"The damage you have all done is incalculable."

The sting on the network — which spread across Bournemouth, Kent and the Swansea Valley — began following a drugs raid in Birchgrove, Swansea, in September 2007.

The following year, the Serious Organised Crime Agency (Soca) began their investigation. The court heard that at the height of the operation in 2008, between four to eight kilos of high-quality cocaine was being sent out by Quick every 7 to 10 days to Bournemouth and South Wales.

The cocaine was then cut with mixing agents to make quantities of the drug go further and would be sold onto the South Wales group headed by Richards.

On May 18, 2009, Richards and Pritchard were spotted moving a pressing machine into an industrial estate in Abernant, this was later moved to Tyn Y Coed Cae Farm on June 4.

Around this time Richards, 32, and Pritchard, 34, had also been spotted riding motorcycles and meeting up with the driver of a Ford Mondeo.

The motorist was later stopped by police and one kilogram of cocaine was discovered under his seat. The court also heard that the pairs fingerprints had been found on a bag containing £180,000.

In mitigation Fred Jenkins said Richards had admitted to owning £66,000 of that cash.

"It was a loan intended to be used as a deposit for 10 Nissan Skyline motor vehicles as Mr Richards worked in the motor trade."

Defending Pritchard Kevin Seal said his client, like Richards, had entered a guilty plea to conspiring to supply Class A drugs.

He added since his remand he had become a prisoner listener for The Samaritans.

Meanwhile, Francis Jones, representing Horton, stressed his client had played no part in the distribution of drugs but was helping Richards, who had taken him in as a favour.

"He was paid in cocaine," said Mr Jones.

Richards and Pritchard were given prison terms of 12 years, and 9 years and 9 months respectively.

A fourth Welsh man, David Williams, 42, of Bryntwn Road, Cymmer, Port Talbot, has pleaded guilty to possessing a Class A drug with intent to supply and will be sentenced next week.

ben.wright@swwmedia.co.uk