Raja Sarwar, 40, Judge Phillip Richards said: “I don’t think many Valleys takeaway owners drive around in such cars.a Porsche and B.M.W
“And it is ironic that a man who gives pop to some children out of the goodness of his heart, is providing other young people, indirectly, with heroin and cocaine.”
Prosecutor Michael Matherlees said the married father could have had drugs with a street value of up to £400,000 pass through his hands.
He was caught after police operation Phoenix put two city properties he was renting – at Stacey Road, Roath, Cardiff, and Lock-keepers Court, Blackweir Terrace, both in Cardiff – under surveillance between March and July last year.
Both were said to be “safe houses” where he stashed his supplies.
They watched him going to and from the addresses, sometimes just before or just after meeting up with people, before finding nearly a kilo of heroin and 50 grams of crack cocaine, worth more than £160,00, which equates to approximately 14,800 street deals, together with a large amount of other drugs paraphernalia, at his properties.
Mr Matherlees said: “It was clear to the officers that he was involved in the supplying of class-A drugs and was leading a good lifestyle.”
Heroin and cocaine were later found in a holdall the police saw another man trying to burn, at the rented flat in Lock-keepers Court and at Sarwar’s home address at Ynysddu, Pontyclun, where there was also almost £4,000 in cash. After arrest, he admitted he had been involved in drug dealing for four months and pleaded guilty to 10 offences.
In court he was described by his barrister David Leathley as ‘a good loving father and husband’ who ran a successful fast food business for almost a decade, employing four staff. Judge Richards said: “These drugs cause immense harm, misery and sometimes death.”
He also said there would have been a jail sentence of 11 years if Sarwar had denied it and been convicted after a trial.
Detective Chief Inspector Debbie Cooper, from the Regional Task Force, said: “Raja Sarwar lived a life of luxury through selling heroin and crack cocaine.
“He thought he could get away with leading this lifestyle while destroying the lives of so many people by supplying heroin and crack cocaine in our communities.
“But he was wrong. He was caught thanks to the months of dedicated work under Operation Pheonix.
“His sentence sends a strong message to criminals that the police will continue in our fight to remove drugs off our streets and send those involved to prison for a long time.”
The Regional Asset Recovery team has carried out an investigation and that hearing will follow.
“And it is ironic that a man who gives pop to some children out of the goodness of his heart, is providing other young people, indirectly, with heroin and cocaine.”
Prosecutor Michael Matherlees said the married father could have had drugs with a street value of up to £400,000 pass through his hands.
He was caught after police operation Phoenix put two city properties he was renting – at Stacey Road, Roath, Cardiff, and Lock-keepers Court, Blackweir Terrace, both in Cardiff – under surveillance between March and July last year.
Both were said to be “safe houses” where he stashed his supplies.
They watched him going to and from the addresses, sometimes just before or just after meeting up with people, before finding nearly a kilo of heroin and 50 grams of crack cocaine, worth more than £160,00, which equates to approximately 14,800 street deals, together with a large amount of other drugs paraphernalia, at his properties.
Mr Matherlees said: “It was clear to the officers that he was involved in the supplying of class-A drugs and was leading a good lifestyle.”
Heroin and cocaine were later found in a holdall the police saw another man trying to burn, at the rented flat in Lock-keepers Court and at Sarwar’s home address at Ynysddu, Pontyclun, where there was also almost £4,000 in cash. After arrest, he admitted he had been involved in drug dealing for four months and pleaded guilty to 10 offences.
In court he was described by his barrister David Leathley as ‘a good loving father and husband’ who ran a successful fast food business for almost a decade, employing four staff. Judge Richards said: “These drugs cause immense harm, misery and sometimes death.”
He also said there would have been a jail sentence of 11 years if Sarwar had denied it and been convicted after a trial.
Detective Chief Inspector Debbie Cooper, from the Regional Task Force, said: “Raja Sarwar lived a life of luxury through selling heroin and crack cocaine.
“He thought he could get away with leading this lifestyle while destroying the lives of so many people by supplying heroin and crack cocaine in our communities.
“But he was wrong. He was caught thanks to the months of dedicated work under Operation Pheonix.
“His sentence sends a strong message to criminals that the police will continue in our fight to remove drugs off our streets and send those involved to prison for a long time.”
The Regional Asset Recovery team has carried out an investigation and that hearing will follow.
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