Police dismantle organised Swansea drug dealing network

Carl Honey-Jones from Penlan in Swansea used family members and associates to run the drugs supply enterprise alongside his friend and business partner Christian Fielding from the Liverpool area.

Their network was taken apart after officers executed search warrants at 11 addresses across Swansea on 27th November last year.

They made a total of 17 arrests during the operation and seized cocaine with a potential street value of up to £750,000 and almost £60,000 in cash.

Prosecutions were brought against Carl Honey-Jones, Christian Fielding, Brian Harding and Matthew Jones for conspiring to supply class A drugs. Further prosecutions were brought against Carl and Donna Honey-Jones for money laundering and also Laura Harding and David Owens for conspiring to pervert the course of justice.

Carl Honey-Jones, Donna Honey-Jones, Brian Harding, Laura Harding and Owens all pleaded guilty, with Matthew Jones being found guilty following a trial. All are due to be sentenced at Swansea Crown Court on Friday 26th June. Fielding is set to be sentenced next Wednesday.

Detective Inspector Bryan Heard of South Wales Police said:

“The investigation uncovered a sophisticated drug dealing operation led by Christian Fielding and Carl Honey-Jones and his wife Donna Marie Honey-Jones.

“These individuals were leading lives of a luxury financed exclusively by their income from illegal activities.

“Their wealth and assets have now been dismantled and thankfully the drugs which they had in their possession will never reach the streets of Swansea.”

While Fielding and the Honey-Jones’s were the leaders of the operation, they had a network of associates involved, including friends and family members.

Brian Harding (Donna’s father) his daughter Laura Harding and stepbrother David Owens were also involved in the criminal enterprise. Brian Harding was involved in storing and mixing the drugs, whilst Laura and David disposed of further evidence after the initial police operation.

Matthew Jones, a close friend of Carl Honey-Jones was believed to be involved in the supply of controlled drugs and would also collect cash for the drugs on behalf of Carl Honey-Jones.

When officers began examining the lifestyles of the defendants Fielding and Honey-Jones they were found to be benefiting financially from the drug dealing.

Receipts for the wedding of the Honey-Jones’s totalling £40,000 were discovered and various family holidays to Mexico, Dubai, Maldives and Florida costing around £40,000. A Christmas trip to Lapland had been booked but never went ahead as the Honey-Jones’ had been arrested.

There have been asset confiscations of prestige cars, jewellery, quad bikes and a house worth around £300,000.

An investigation has also been carried out by the Department for Work and Pensions into benefit claims totalling £48,000 and a further police investigation continues into fraud.

DI Heard added:

“It is difficult to overstate the importance of identifying drug dealing operations like this, which cause untold misery in our communities.

“This group were living lives similar to the rich and famous with expensive homes, cars and holidays which were all well beyond their legitimate means.

“We will actively pursue those involved in the supply of illegal drugs to ensure offenders are brought to justice. We will also be making sure their crimes will not pay by stripping them of the profit and assets of their offending under the Proceeds of Crime Act.”

Anyone who knows of drug dealing or any other form of crime in their community should call 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.