**Teenager Sentenced for County Lines Drug Dealing in Swansea**
An 18-year-old from Swansea has been handed a custodial sentence after being caught supplying heroin and crack cocaine as part of a county lines operation, highlighting the continued challenges posed by drugs in Welsh communities.
Morgan Mason, of Heol Calfin in Ravenhill, appeared before Swansea Crown Court for sentencing following his arrest earlier this year. Mason was detained after a dramatic foot chase through Swansea Marina, an area authorities have flagged as a hotspot for drug transactions. Upon being searched, Mason was found carrying £670 in cash, a mobile phone, and a container with 25 wraps containing both heroin and crack cocaine, with an estimated street value of £950.
Further investigation revealed Mason had dropped a so-called ‘burner’ phone during his attempt to evade police. This phone was later linked to a county lines drugs operation known as the “Diesel” line, which had been active in Swansea throughout the first half of 2025. County lines operations typically involve criminal networks from urban areas exploiting vulnerable people and young individuals in smaller towns or rural regions to distribute illegal substances.
The prosecution, represented by Caitlin Brazel, described how police officers had been carrying out patrols on 2 June when they witnessed Mason with two other males in the marina. The group attempted to flee upon noticing the officers, but only Mason was found to be in possession of illegal drugs. The other two men were detained and searched but released without charge.
Court evidence also revealed that Mason had exchanged multiple communications between his personal mobile and the ‘Diesel’ drugs line. The discarded phone held hundreds of promotional texts offering Class A drugs to users across Swansea, evidencing the large-scale nature of the supply operation. When questioned by police, Mason responded “no comment” throughout the interview.
Mason pleaded guilty to two counts: possession of heroin with intent to supply, and possession of crack cocaine with intent to supply. His criminal record revealed a previous suspended sentence for causing grievous bodily harm, and three instances of criminal damage only two months prior to his latest offence. At that time, he had avoided an immediate custodial sentence.
In mitigation, Mason’s defence barrister, Huw Davies, argued his client’s actions were the result of a cannabis addiction that led him “into more serious drug use.” Mr Davies claimed Mason had been manipulated by more experienced criminals, and urged the court to consider Mason’s youth, vulnerability, and stated desire to turn his life around.
During sentencing, Judge Geraint Walters delivered a stern rebuke, cautioning Mason about the path he was pursuing. “You have set yourself on a path which, if you continue to follow, I can safely predict will result in you spending much of your life in prison,” the judge warned. He described heroin and crack cocaine as “wicked” drugs that propagate misery and cause significant harm to individuals and communities. “You were not working but living off the misery of others,” Judge Walters remarked.
Taking Mason’s guilty plea into account, Judge Walters sentenced the teenager to two years and eight months in a young offenders institution for the drug offences. Additionally, a four-month term from the earlier suspended sentence was activated to run consecutively, resulting in a total custodial sentence of three years. Following the norms in such cases, Mason will serve half his sentence in custody before being released on licence.
This case once again raises questions about the vulnerability of young people involved in county lines drug networks and the wider social consequences of the illegal drug trade in Wales. It highlights the persistent pressures faced by police and communities as they seek to address the complex threat posed by organised drug distribution, and the personal tragedies that often lie behind court headlines.
As Swansea authorities continue to combat drugs crime, this sentencing serves both as punishment and as a stark warning to others enticed by the perceived financial rewards of drug dealing. It is a reminder of the rigorous approach being taken by law enforcement and the judiciary toward county lines activities, and the lasting impact drug abuse and criminality can have on families and neighbourhoods alike.