Drone footage captures dramatic moment drug gang responsible for smuggling millions of pounds-worth of Class As was busted

The moment a drug gang responsible for smuggling millions of pounds-worth of Class As from the north west into Wales was brought down was captured by a police drone.

The sophisticated organised crime group (OCG) modified cars to smuggle large amounts of drugs from Merseyside into North Wales towns. In February last year, a number of raids were carried out at several properties in both locations.

More than 18kg of cocaine; 19kg of amphetamine; and 885 grams of cannabis was seized as part of the operation - with a total estimated street value of around £2m. The movements of those suspected to be involved in the drug supply chain were closely monitored for months prior by North Wales Police as part of Operation Blue Cashel.

READ MORE: 'I was robbed at knifepoint in Selfridges'

Police also seized a significant amount of cash and three cars. The OCG modified their cars with sophisticated electronic hides in the floor pan to transport the drugs into North Wales, reports the ECHO.

A ledger recovered from a house during a raid noted a monthly turnover of £1.2m. Another ledger recovered from one of the seized vehicles noted that between July 2021 and February 2022, more than £4.8m worth of drugs had been sold by the gang.

Footage released by North Wales Police shows the moment several officers intercept several members of the OCG in a car park. The drone footage shows the officers emerge from an undercover white van before tackling and handcuffing the gang members.

Soon after several police cars, some marked and others unmarked, drive over and box in the drug dealers' cars. The officers can be seen wrestling some members of the gang to the ground.

Caernarfon Crown Court heard this week how the 11 defendants pleaded guilty