A drug dealer from Carmarthenshire has been jailed after officers discovered large amounts of cocaine, drug paraphernalia, and around £5,500 in cash during a warrant.

Multiple intelligence logs led Dyfed-Powys Police to investigate Ian Stanton, a 58-year-old from Maes y Glyn, Ammanford. They carried out a warrant and forced entry to his property on Friday, August 14.

Police officers found large amounts of white powder, later confirmed be cocaine, scales, plastic packets, multiple phones, and around £5,500 cash in different boxes and bags. They did not find Ian Stanton.

Although Stanton was not at the address at the time, Margaret Lewis, a 63-year-old from Tir y Dail Lane, Ammanford was located inside. Initially claiming to simply be housesitting for the drug dealer, she was arrested and charged with possession of class A drugs with the intent to supply.

Stanton was located and arrested in the Sussex Police area and transferred to a custody suite in Dyfed-Powys. He was remanded into custody alongside Margaret Lewis.

They both pleaded guilty to possession of class A drugs with intent to supply at Swansea Crown Court on Thursday, September 17.

They appeared back at Swansea Crown Court on Friday, October 2.

Ian Stanton was sentenced to 38 months in prison.

Margaret Lewis was sentenced to 18 months in prison, suspended for two years. She must also complete 200 hours unpaid work as part of her Rehabilitation Activity Requirement (RAR).

DC Steven Thomas, of Dyfed-Powys Police, said: “This is another example of intelligence-led policing making Dyfed-Powys a hostile area to people who deal drugs.

“This was an organised operation that saw Stanton and Lewis putting large amounts of class A drugs into our communities. Disrupting this activity has helped us to make them safer for everyone,” he added.