Man ran wholesale drug trade from en suite shower room
A MAN who ran a "substantial wholesale" cannabis business from his Swansea home has been jailed.
A MAN who ran a "substantial wholesale" cannabis business from his Swansea home has been jailed.
When police went to a flat in the SA1 development last month following concerns from neighbours about the smell of cannabis, they found the en suite shower room was being used to dry the drug prior to its sale.
Swansea Crown Court heard that the officers recovered more than 16lbs of cannabis buds from the flat along with £9,000 in cash which was a "deposit" from the cannabis's intended buyer.
Yu Li, of South Quay, King's Road, had previously pleaded guilty to possessing the drug with intent to supply, and to possessing criminal property - namely the money - when he appeared for sentencing.
The court was told he was acting as a middle man between a friend and a person who wanted to buy the cannabis.
If sold as street deals, the cannabis could have been worth up to £73,000.
In mitigation, Alex Scott said his client had entered the country illegally around 2004.
"Because of his status he has been unable to obtain employment of a legitimate nature," the solicitor said.
"This made him vulnerable to exploitation from those above him in the chain."
Sentencing Li, His Honour Judge Keith Thomas said he had been involved in a "substantial wholesale venture".
The 32-year-old was jailed for 16 months for the drug charge and eight months for the money charge, to run concurrently.
Li bowed to the judge as he was taken to the cells.
Courts news
http://www.southwales-eveningpost.co.uk/Wholesale-drug-trade-flat/story-22128403-detail/story.html 07/08/2014