A cocaine dealer who claimed he was forced into drug dealing by an Albanian organised crime group after they provided sex workers for him has been jailed.
Arrest and discovery
Brooklyn Thomas, 27, was arrested in Llanelli on April 9 this year after a police officer spotted suspicious behaviour near the railway station. The officer saw two men talking on their phones, separately entering a pathway, and emerging shortly after before going their separate ways. Suspecting a drug transaction, the officer followed Thomas to a nearby BMW car.
Upon arrest, officers seized two phones and £210 in cash. A search revealed six underweight one-gram deals of high-purity cocaine concealed in his pants. Examination of his phone showed a recent incoming message reading: "I am walking down to grab some cash now. Are you able to do one?" A search of his home found two sets of weighing scales with cocaine traces and a small amount of cannabis mixed with tobacco.
Coercion claim
In his first police interview, Thomas told officers he was selling drugs under coercion from an Albanian organised crime group. He said he met gang members after accessing a website to secure a prostitute. The gang provided him with several sex workers that day, leading to a £10,000 debt. He was then told he would have to work to pay off what he owed.
Prosecutor Sian Cutter told Swansea Crown Court that phone analysis revealed messages relating to cocaine supply dating back to January 2025, including references to "one of the boys" delivering deals. Messages were also found on Facebook, Snapchat, and WhatsApp.
Sentencing
Thomas, of Campbell Street, Llanelli, pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine with intent to supply, being concerned in the supply of cocaine, possession of criminal property (cash), and simple possession of cannabis. He had previous convictions for dishonesty but none for drugs.
Defence barrister Matt Murphy said Thomas had a supportive mother, but his father was a drug user who first gave him cannabis at age 16. After school, he trained as a painter and decorator and set up his own business with little success, then worked at a car parts factory. With limited qualifications, he struggled to find permanent employment. His time in prison on remand had acted as a "reset" in his life.
Judge Huw Rees noted Thomas came from Pwll, an area with "lots of good people," before moving to Morfa, Llanelli, where he "fell in with bad company." The judge said there was already "far too much" Class A drugs in Llanelli and Burry Port without Thomas contributing. He added that if Thomas's account was "even remotely true," it illustrated the "dark world" of drug dealing populated by people with "evil intent."
The judge told Thomas to reflect on the stress and anxiety caused to his mother, who had given him "nothing but unconditional love and support." With discounts for guilty pleas, Thomas was sentenced to three years in prison. He will serve up to half before being released on licence.
