Five people have been sentenced to 19 years and two months in prison after police raided a property and pulled a man over
Five people have been sentenced to 19 years and two months in prison after police raided a property in Tylorstown, Ferndale. On March 26, 2025 officers from South Wales Police’s Organised Crime Unit searched the property of Stephen Williams, 41, on East Road where they found him along with a locked safe.
Claiming the safe was not his, Williams told officers that the room in which it was found was rented to “Ferret,” later identified as Kyle Hughes. After forcibly opening the safe, officers found 1,681 grams of cocaine, weighing scales, and sandwich bags used for packaging drugs.
Various items were seized from the property including a Samsung mobile phone, an Apple iPhone, empty snap bags, a black safe, a £20 note and drug paraphernalia. Don’t miss a court report by signing up to our crime newsletter here
Packaging materials with traces of cocaine was also found which Williams attributed to Hughes.
Continuing their inquiries, following the statement made about Kyle Hughes, 31, of Penrhys Avenue, Tylorstown officers searched for the man.
Hughes was stopped by police in his Renault Megane and he was searched. From their search, officers recovered £7,000 in cash, resulting in his arrest for involvement in the supply of Class A drugs.
A search of Hughes’ home led officers to a cannabis farm where 17 plants were growing.
Around 6.45pm the same day, officers arrested Matthew Perkins, 43, of Upper Gynor Place, Ynyshir, Porth, who had paid Hughes £25,000, for being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs.
A large quantity of cocaine was found at Perkins’s property but he denied knowledge of it.
Both Ashley Murphy, 37, of Cefn Bryn, Trebanog, Porth and Sara Qamber, 30, of Park View, Llanharan, Pontyclun present during the arrest, were also charged.
Officers from South Wales Police undertook phone searches of the five arrested in which evidence of supplying Class A drugs was found.
Hughes’s phone had evidence of a recent financial transfer from Qamber. Murphy’s phone indicated active involvement in drug supply, including sales offers.
Qamber’s phone contained messages discussing drug transactions and connections with Hughes.
All five gang members appeared at Merthyr Crown Court on Friday, 21 November where they were sentenced to jail terms.
Stephen Williams was sentenced to two years and nine months for concerned in supply of cocaine.
Kyle Hughes was sentenced to five years and 11 months for concerned in supply of cocaine, production of cannabis, possess with intent to supply cocaine.
Ashley Murphy was sentenced to two years and four months for concerned in supply of cocaine.
Matthew Perkins was sentenced to five years and seven months for concerned in supply of cocaine, possess with intent to supply cocaine and possess cocaine.
Sara Qamber was sentenced to two years and seven months for concerned in supply of cocaine.
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