The chance discovery of drugs and cash at an Anglesey pub would eventually lead police to uncover a multi-million-pound narcotics ring and secure record prison sentences for a single case.
After Aled Gray - the mastermind of a drug "consortium" which spanned North Wales, Manchester and Merseyside - was jailed for 10 years today, police revealed how they pulled off Operation Zeus, which culminated in 27 defendants pleading guilty.
Gray, 35, from Holyhead , had his operation based at two pubs in the town - the Boston Arms and the Dublin Packet - but it started to unravel after police were called to the Boston on an unrelated matter on August 13, 2017.
While searching the pub, officers discovered a quarter of a kilogramme of cocaine and £4,000 in cash.
This led to a police operation which involved thousands of hours of investigation, surveillance and covert recording.
Police found that the gang hid the bulk of the drugs in houses guarded by other gang members away from their centres of operation, before they were refined and distributed to dealers.
They also found the criminal web spread down the North Wales coast and to Manchester, Liverpool and Skelmersdale in Merseyside. The network brought two organised crime groups in North Wales together: Gray's in Holyhead and Matthew Jones' outfit, which controlled Llandudno.
Recording devices were fitted to vehicles, clandestine pictures and videos were taken, and officers began assembling the jigsaw of evidence which revealed a network of drug procurement, processing and distribution.
People in Anglesey, Denbighshire and Conwy were sold cocaine and heroin bought from dealers in Manchester, with purities ranging from 13% to 90%.
They were aided by what were dubbed "industrial" amounts of adulterants (mixing and cutting agents) such as benzocaine, caffeine, boric acid, lactose and glucose, so that their stash stretched further and their profits were greater.
One police seizure involved 47kgs of benzocaine used for mixing with the drugs, which had come from a contact in Skelmersdale.
That contact, Phillip Scarisbrick, was the main man for mixing agents and was assisted by Darren Myles and Shaun Kearns. Between them, they made more than 20 trips to North Wales to make deliveries.
They were jailed for nine and a half years, nine and three years, and 10 months respectively.
Cocaine, heroin, cannabis, ecstasy tablets and mixing agents worth more than £2.7m were seized, plus quantities of cash and mobile phones.
The seizures, along with recordings of conversations and meetings between the ringleaders in which deals and purchases were discussed, tightened the noose around the gang.
Dozens of early morning warrants were executed simultaneously by North Wales Police , leading to arrests, interviews and charges for 27 people .
The 27 defendants pleaded guilty to the charges against them, and they received a total of 182 years and 11 months - the largest aggregate sentence for a single trial in North Wales policing history.
Detective Inspector Lee Boycott, of the force's serious organised crime investigation unit, called the group's activities "the greatest productivity from an organised crime group" he'd seen in 13 years.
He said some of those convicted had since lodged appeals against the lengths of their jail terms, which ranged from 18 months to 12 years in prison.
DI Boycott said: "They were working long hours but so were the police. This allowed us to put a full picture to the courts.
"If people choose to become embroiled in this type of crime, they will attract the attention of the police.
"These crime groups were sophisticated and adept at what they did. Their plan to flood drugs onto the streets of North Wales took time to understand and gather the evidence.
"The large group thought they could defeat police, but I want people to understand illicit drug supply causes misery and corruption of our communities. It will always be a priority to the police."
DI Boycott said proceeds of crime applications are being pursued to "curtail criminal lifestyles on release", and he appealed to the public to keep reporting suspicious activity in their communities.
"Too much bling, give us a ring" was the officer's advice to the public.
Police surveillance footage from Cheshire Oaks showed Mancunian cocaine dealer Jordan Peeks with Llandudno crime boss Jones, scanning the area for police surveillance.
Stood by a Mercedes driven by one of Jones' associates, they relaxed, believing they were safe from prying eyes as they discussed business. But their movements and their words were building up the police case against them.
Peeks' brother Jay was also seen delivering drugs on his sibling's behalf on other occasions. Jordan Peeks was sentenced to 10 years, and his brother Jay was given six and a half years.
More footage taken in Llandudno Junction showed the Holyhead and Llandudno hierarchy chatting.
Jones and his right-hand man Lee Eastham Jones stood with Gray and his associate Cain Jones. None of them realised their conversations and meetings were by this time being recorded by police.
Jones was sentenced to 12 years, his lieutenant Eastham Jones was given eight years, and Cain Jones was jailed for 12 years.
In a stark example of the kind of money involved, Jones was recorded on the phone trying to establish how big his drug debt to Jordan Peeks was. It was approaching £60,000, but Jones discussed the huge figure in a casual way, as if it was small change.
Dealers and distributors in Colwyn Bay , Rhyl , Llandudno Junction, Llandudno and Holyhead were involved and ultimately caught in the operation.
But it was Gray who was seen as the head man. Having forged a pact between his Holyhead gang and that of his counterpart Jones, he ordered foot soldiers to buy drugs and adulterants in what the CPS called "staggering quantities", while he tried to keep himself at arm's length from the "dirty" side of the business.
He organised safe houses where the drugs were collated, cut and moved on - and his familiarity with police surveillance techniques was captured in recorded conversations with subordinates.
The net finally closed in on Gray today, as Judge Niclas Parry jailed him for 10 years on each of two conspiracy charges, to supply cocaine and heroin. The terms will run concurrently, as will a suspended sentence hanging over him, which was activated by Judge Niclas Parry.
Gemma Vincent, of the CPS, said: "The amount of drugs distributed by the two organised crime groups in North Wales was staggering. Aled Gray was instrumental in these criminal activities.
"The investigation revealed that two entirely separate crime groups came together to form a profitable consortium.
"In doing so, they were able to supply class A drugs along the North Wales corridor across three counties. This was a well-established and sophisticated criminal enterprise.
"The CPS provided advice to the police from the early stages of the investigation, and together we presented a strong evidential case which resulted in the convictions.
"We will continue to work with North Wales Police and other investigative authorities to disrupt the illegal drugs trade and bring those responsible before the courts."
