Police are patrolling the quiet Welsh village of Carno in Powys amid concerns that criminals may attempt to unearth a hidden stash of LSD said to have been buried there more than 40 years ago. The claim comes from a former detective involved in the 1977 Operation Julie investigation, which smashed a multimillion-pound drugs ring that supplied up to 90% of the LSD in the UK.
Dyfed-Powys police have stepped up patrols in the area and alerted the current owners of Plas Llysyn, the former mansion used as a drugs factory, about the potential for unwanted visitors. A police spokesperson said they are assessing the disclosure and will check records to determine whether further investigation is warranted.
The claim was made by Stephen Bentley, a former officer who wrote a book about Operation Julie. In a new edition, he said a statement from a gang member suggested a substantial amount of LSD was buried in woodland near Plas Llysyn. Bentley said he only recently obtained the statement and believes it to be true, stating, 'That stash is almost certainly still there.'
Operation Julie was launched after a car crash in Machynlleth led police to a torn-up note mentioning a key LSD ingredient. Some 800 officers, some disguised as hippies, conducted surveillance, leading to the seizure of 1m tabs and enough raw materials for 6.5m more. A total of 120 arrests were made, with 15 convictions and prison sentences totalling 120 years.
The police spokesperson added: 'We take a robust approach to drug trafficking and appropriate action will be taken against anyone suspected of using this information to obtain and supply controlled drugs.'
