Drug dealer who used habit to fund swanky Dubai hotel stays sobs as he's jailed

Wales Online

01-05-2025

Drug dealer who used habit to fund swanky Dubai hotel stays sobs as he's jailed
Jerome Samuels, 31, was found in possession of more than £48,000 worth of heroin, crack cocaine and cocaine when pulled over by police.
Jerome Samuels, 31, was found in possession of more than £48,000 worth of heroin, crack cocaine and cocaine.
(Image: Gwent Police )
A drug dealer who was found with £48,000 worth of heroin and cocaine sobbed in court as he was sentenced. Jerome Samuels was said to have lived a "lavish" lifestyle through his criminal enterprise with nights spent in penthouse flats and high end hotels in Dubai.
Samuels, 31, was stopped by police in Newport on January 26 this year after he was seen getting out of a Vauxhall Insignia and was recognised. He was arrested on suspicion of supplying class A drugs and a search of his person and the vehicle were carried out.
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A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Thursday heard a total of £5,650 in cash was discovered as well as a key to a Volkswagen Tiguan. For the latest court reports sign up to our crime newsletter.
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This vehicle was tracked to Maesglas Crescent and in the boot of the car were JD Sports bags.
The bags were searched and were found to contain quantities of heroin, crack cocaine and cocaine.
Prosecutor Tabitha Walker said a total of 205g of crack cocaine worth £20,020, 651g of heroin worth between £16,740 and £22,266, and 491g of cocaine worth £12,000 was discovered.
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The defendant's phone was also examined and a variety of messages including voice notes were found which indicated he was involved in supplying drugs.
Ms Walker said Samuels was a "high level and wholesale supplier" and was involved at various stages of the enterprise, with the voice notes referencing large amounts of controlled drugs.
Samuels, of Monnow Way, Bettws, later pleaded guilty to two counts of possession with intent to supply class A drugs and possession of criminal property.
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The defendant, who sobbed in the dock during the hearing, has 13 previous convictions including an offence of drug possession.
In mitigation, Julia Cox said her client was an abuse of cocaine and cannabis and fell into debt with dealers above him in the chain who enforced the debt and recruited him into dealing.
The court heard the father-of-four was not present for his grandmother's death on Sunday due to him being remanded in prison.
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Sentencing, Judge Celia Hughes said the total value of the drugs found in Samuels' possession was £48,760. She said the defendant had lived a lavish lifestyle with stays at penthouse flats and high-end hotels in Dubai.
The judge added: "When you became involved in dealing class A drugs you knew the risks that you could receive a substantial sentence. You took that risk despite having a family and having contact with three of your young children."
Samuels was sentenced to a total of 56 months imprisonment.
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Following the hearing, PC Thomas Meazey, of Gwent Police, said: "Jerome Samuels funded a lavish and extravagant lifestyle through his criminal activities.
"The supply of drugs is not a victimless crime; it causes harm and misery not only to those involved and their families but also the wider community.
"We welcome the sentence imposed on Samuels and hope that it demonstrates that those involved in such criminal activity are not untouchable."
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