THE boss of a drugs gang which caused "incalculable" harm to North Wales communities benefited from his criminality to the tune of more than £2.3m, a court heard.

Colin Jones, aged 52 and of no fixed abode, appeared at Mold Crown Court on Friday morning via video link.

In September 2020, following a police initiative called Operation Tide, he was jailed for 21 years for various drugs offences and conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm.

The court heard at his sentencing that he was the "head man" in charge of a nationwide drug trafficking group and that he "masterminded all aspects" of the lucrative business.

The Leader: Evidence seized in Operation Tide (NWP)Evidence seized in Operation Tide (NWP) (Image: NWP)

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The Leader: Colin Jones (NWP)Colin Jones (NWP) (Image: NWP)

The Merseyside-based organisation's drug supply was confirmed to have reached dealers and sub-dealers in areas in Scotland, Southern England and North Wales - specifically Deeside and Anglesey.

At the Proceeds of Crime Act hearing on Friday, Judge Niclas Parry certified the defendant's financial benefit from the criminality to be £2,337,131.11 and the amount available for confiscation at £534,115.09.

All-in-all, once the 18 people involved in the scheme had been sentenced, the gang as a whole received a total of 146 years jail time.