**70-Year-Old Sentenced for Operating Merthyr Heroin Supply Operation**
A 70-year-old man from Merthyr Tydfil has been sentenced to nearly four years in prison after police discovered enough heroin at his home to make roughly 700 individual street deals. The case, heard before Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court, has drawn attention not only due to the quantity of drugs involved, but also because of the age of the perpetrator, Gareth Evans, described by the presiding judge as running a “widespread and financially-thriving business”.
The incident began on 30 January 2025 when officers from South Wales Police stopped a Vauxhall Mokka in the Merthyr area. Gareth Evans was behind the wheel at the time and a search of the vehicle quickly led to the discovery of five wraps of brown powder later identified as heroin. This initial find prompted a full search of his home address in Dowlais, North Street, where officers made a far more significant haul.
Inside the property, police unearthed packages and tubs of heroin which, according to prosecuting counsel Ross McQuillan-Johnson, amounted to enough of the drug to supply approximately 700 street-level sales, with an estimated value in excess of £21,000. Alongside the illicit drugs, police recovered £850 in cash, a collection of drug paraphernalia including weighing scales, and ten boxes of bromazepam, a Class C prescription medication. Notably, the prosecution confirmed that although several mobile phones were seized during the inquiry, their contents were never analysed.
During interviews with police, Evans chose to exercise his right to remain silent, responding “no comment” to all questions posed. When the case came before the court, he pleaded guilty to both possession with intent to supply heroin and to the simple possession of bromazepam.
Court documents revealed that Evans was no stranger to the criminal justice system. His record included a 2013 conviction for heroin supply and a 2017 incident involving simple possession of heroin. These prior offences were weighed heavily by the prosecution and the judge in assessing the risk and seriousness of the present case.
Defending, Ieuan Bennett told the court that after his earlier brushes with the law, Evans had previously managed to rid himself of heroin addiction. However, more recently he had become involved with a woman who experienced issues with substance misuse herself. The court heard that the financial debts from her previous lifestyle exerted significant pressure on Evans and, despite being in the “twilight of his life”, he made the ill-judged decision to get involved in drug dealing once again.
Judge Jeremy Jenkins, in handing down his verdict, was unequivocal in his assessment of the operation. He characterised Evans’ activities as evidence of a large-scale, financially lucrative criminal enterprise. The judge remarked that someone with Evans’ experience ought to have been well aware of the dangers and the often merciless pursuit of debt that permeates the illegal drugs trade.
After applying credit for Evans’ guilty pleas, the court imposed a custodial sentence of 45 months. In accordance with standard procedure, Evans will likely serve half of that period in prison before being released on licence, supervised within the community for the remainder of his sentence.
Cases such as this highlight the persistent reach of the illegal drugs trade, transcending age and social background, and the difficulty some former offenders face in breaking free from cycles of crime and addiction. The sentencing also reflects the courts’ determination to treat drug supply as a serious offence, irrespective of personal circumstance or age.
This case is likely to fuel ongoing debates about support for former addicts, the influences that draw individuals back into illegal activity, and the wider social impact of the heroin trade in communities across South Wales. As always, police have urged the public to report any information regarding drug crime as part of their efforts to combat the issue locally.