JAMES WELCH a successful businessman and director of Tenby-Based Proseal Roofing Ltd, a company that generated over £4 million in revenue last year, has been implicated in a conspiracy to supply cocaine with a street value of £428,000. The elaborate drug ring was brought down when vigilant police officers intercepted a taxi driver who was found in possession of 3kg of cocaine.

Welch, aged 46 and hailing from Swansea, played a pivotal role in the illicit operation, working in tandem with Marianne McGuinness, a 41-year-old woman who allowed her flat in Cardiff to be used as a safehouse for drug distribution. The duo maintained extensive communication via seized mobile phones, which the police managed to apprehend.

During the sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Monday, details emerged of the operation’s unraveling. On November 6, 2018, law enforcement officials observed taxi driver Lee McCarthy pulling up in a black Mercedes outside McGuinness’s residence in Radyr, De Clare Drive, around 4:20 PM. McCarthy stayed inside the vehicle while McGuinness emerged from her flat, leaning into the car to hand over a green package.

Shortly after the exchange, McCarthy was followed by the police and subsequently detained on Michaelston Road in Ely. Upon searching the vehicle, authorities discovered a green Co-op bag in the passenger seat footwell, concealing black plastic-wrapped items. These packages contained three blocks of white powder, each weighing approximately 1kg, marked with the initials “BBVA.”

Prosecutor Roger Griffiths revealed that the cocaine blocks possessed a purity ranging from 77% to 80%. While their wholesale value amounted to £90,000 to £120,000, their street value skyrocketed to £342,000 to £428,000.

The package was promptly confiscated, leading to McCarthy’s arrest. Forensic analysis of the package’s wrapping uncovered a DNA profile that matched McGuinness. Subsequently, McGuinness was apprehended as well, and evidence from her phones exposed Welch’s involvement in the drug conspiracy.

The next arrest linked to the operation occurred on January 10, 2019, when 41-year-old Hassun Salim was observed collecting money on behalf of Welch. Salim was seen leaving his residence on Penhevad Street, Grangetown, entering a Volkswagen taxi, and driving to Merches Gardens. After disembarking the taxi, Salim walked to a garage on Clare Road and emerged five minutes later with a black bag.

Salim proceeded to Schooner Way, where he transferred the bag to another nearby vehicle before attempting to leave the area. However, law enforcement authorities swiftly intervened, apprehending Salim. The black bag was found to contain an astonishing £142,580, while Salim claimed he had been paid £1,000 for his collection services.

On June 26, 2019, Welch was arrested outside his workplace in Baglan following the revelations obtained from McGuinness’s phone, where she had threatened to expose Welch to the authorities during an argument. Although a laptop, iPhone, and an EncroChat device were seized from Welch, investigators were unable to access the contents of the latter. During his police interview, Welch exercised his right to remain silent but maintained that he and McGuinness were merely “friends” who occasionally met for coffee.

The legal proceedings surrounding the complex case were marked by numerous challenges, including the initial trial’s postponement in 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions. Delays were further compounded by difficulties encountered with Welch’s legal fees and the unavailability of the investigating officer due to an injury.

However, at the beginning of 2023, Welch, residing in Frederick Place, Llansamlet, Swansea, and McGuinness both pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply a controlled Class A drug. Salim pleaded guilty to possession of criminal property. During the court hearing, it was revealed that Welch had four prior convictions related to drug trafficking, while McGuinness had a previous conviction for possession with intent to supply mephedrone. Salim, on the other hand, had no previous criminal record.

In an attempt to mitigate the severity of the charges against Welch, Archangelo Power, his defense counsel, highlighted his client’s role as the director of Proseal Roofing Ltd, which had achieved remarkable success with an annual revenue of £4 million and employed 55 individuals. Power further emphasized that Welch was the sole caregiver of his young daughter following his wife’s tragic demise. During the case’s protracted delay, Welch had sought treatment for ADHD, found stability in a new relationship, and steered his business toward unprecedented triumph.

Tim Petrides, representing McGuinness, argued that his client was a single mother grappling with financial hardships and desperately trying to provide for her children. Petrides acknowledged that although McGuinness could have pursued alternative means, she had inadvertently succumbed to Welch’s influence and allowed her residence to serve as a safehouse.

In Salim’s defense, Ben Waidhofer maintained that his client occupied a distinct position among the co-defendants, warranting consideration for a suspended custodial sentence. Waidhofer cited Salim’s employment and the dependent individuals relying on him.

The case’s culmination in court was met with shock and dismay, underscoring the involvement of prominent individuals in criminal activities and the far-reaching consequences of drug conspiracies. As the legal proceedings progress, the court faces the weighty responsibility of determining appropriate sentences for the defendants involved in this sophisticated cocaine supply network.