A drug dealer travelling from London to Cardiff was caught with deals of heroin and crack cocaine while driving in the Welsh city. Aris Simos, 52, was found with £780 worth of class A drugs on him when stopped by police officers in Cardiff on March 22. The search of his car uncovered 12 deals of heroin and 27 deals of cocaine hidden in the central console. Messages on his phone indicated that he was working for an established upstream dealer as a courier to deliver drugs and money.
During the sentencing hearing at Newport Crown Court, it was revealed that Simos had £80 in cash and had made a £280 deposit into his bank account. Further investigation found that £4,000 had been deposited into his account in the previous six months. Simos, who pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply heroin and cocaine, had travelled from London to Cardiff to deliver the drugs. Despite his background as a long-time user of class A drugs, his defence barrister highlighted that he had been drug-free since his arrest and was making positive changes during his time in prison.
Ultimately, Judge Vanessa Francis sentenced Simos to 30 months’ imprisonment. He will serve half of the sentence in custody before being released under license to complete the remainder of his term. The court acknowledged his previous drug use but also noted his efforts to turn his life around since his arrest. The case sheds light on the ongoing challenges of drug trafficking and the legal repercussions faced by those involved in such activities.