A MACHYNLLETH man with links to the Merseyside underworld has been jailed for his part in a national cannabis-growing conspiracy worth £1,300,000.

Mark John Roberts, 51, of Pencaemawr, Penegoes, has started a two-year and four-month stint behind bars after he was convicted of growing cannabis at two sites in Wales, including near Machynlleth.

Roberts was part of a 12-strong organised crime group from Liverpool who were sentenced to a total of 39 years in prison during two days of court hearings at Liverpool Crown Court earlier this month.

Their convictions come following a long investigation and a series of co-ordinated raids by Titan, the north-west regional organised crime unit, and officers from Merseyside, Cheshire, Staffordshire and Dyfed Powys police forces in March.

Speaking after the court case, senior investigating officer, Det Insp Nick Hughes from Titan, said: “These substantial jail sentences should serve as a warning to people about the consequences of becoming involved in organised crime.

“The cannabis this gang were growing was lining their pockets, enabling them to live comfortable lifestyle whilst flooding their communities with drugs.”

Led by Gary Long and Peter Snape from Fazakerly in Liverpool, the gang grew cannabis plants of such quality and in such professional conditions that a police drug expert described the 86kg yield as the most valuable he had ever seen.

When police raided the homes of some of the defendants after uncovering the farms, they found evidence of a lifestyle paid for with drug money - expensive cars, watches and designer clothes were found along with £30,000 in cash.

Detectives from Titan worked with local forces to investigate the gang, which set up its first cannabis farm at a rural property in Aberdwr, south Wales in 2013.

The farm was dismantled by police and co-accused Roberts was arrested but not charged.

Roberts came to the police’s attention again when a cannabis farm was spotted near Machynlleth and links to Merseyside cannabis criminals were established.

Titan officers identified a third, much larger farm house being used to grow cannabis, this time in Essington in Staffordshire.

The gang were caught when they hurriedly cleared out dozens of plants from a property that was due to be inspected by the local authority landlord, leaving evidence behind.

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