In November 2004 as part of Operation Cyan, 13 drug dealers were sentenced for a total of over 61 years for conspiracy to Supply Class A and B drugs.

The operation targeted Leslie Thomas and his associates based within the Neath area. A solid foundation of evidence had been passed on from the National Crime Squad, which resulted in the entire network being investigated throughout the South Wales and Dyfed Powys areas.

During the first phase of the operation, a total of 18 search warrants were executed throughout South and West Wales where 10 persons were arrested with a second phase resulting in the arrests of five further persons. This led to the recovery of cannabis, amphetamine and cocaine.

As the operation developed, police officers stopped a van as it was driven to England by Leslie Romans. In the back of the van, the officers found a bin liner containing £104,000 in cash which was intended as payment for drugs and was subsequently forfeited at a cash seizure hearing. .

In total, 12 persons were the subject of confiscation investigations during the course of 2005. The courts declared that in total their benefit from crime was just under £1.4 million and confiscation orders were awarded to a total of over £141,000. The cash and the van used by the courier were also forfeited.

Mr Christopher Woolley, Chief Crown Prosecutor and Chair of the South Wales Criminal Justice Board said, "The results in these cases send a clear message to criminals that crime does not pay, and that profiting from crime will not be tolerated. This is another excellent example demonstrating how working together in partnership with the police and other law enforcement, the CPS, and the Wales Regional Asset Recovery Team, has resulted in some of the largest confiscation orders being imposed by the court".