Man arrested immediately after stepping out of prison

Iestyn Raven, 24, has been jailed for six years(Image: South Wales Police)

A drug dealer arrested moments after his release from prison, has now been jailed for another six years after a fresh investigation into a major drugs line.

Iestyn Raven, 24, from Barry, was met by detectives waiting outside Cardiff Prison on July 16, 2026, who arrested him as he walked through the prison gates.

His arrest followed a fresh South Wales Police investigation into the "Reggie" drugs line, which investigators believe continued operating across the Vale of Glamorgan between January and May 2026.

Raven had previously been sentenced to 40 months in prison in January 2025 after admitting offences connected to the supply of crack cocaine and heroin throughout the Vale of Glamorgan.

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Footage emerged at the time of his original sentence, showing Raven laughing and joking while pretending to call Universal Credit, as he held a bundle of cash believed to be the proceeds of drug dealing. Detective Inspector Tim Jones had stated that Raven was "certainly not laughing now" after he was sent to prison for his role in supplying dangerous Class A drugs.

In the latest investigation, officers identified a series of similarities between the original drugs line and the latest operation, including marketing messages, contact patterns, customer communications and the timing of its activity.

Investigators believe the latest operation used the same distinctive branding and messaging style linked to Raven's previous conviction.

The investigation also identified that the drugs line ceased operating immediately following Raven's arrest and recall to prison in May 2026, mirroring the circumstances surrounding his arrest in September 2024, when the original "Reggie" line also fell silent.

Following his arrest outside Cardiff Prison in July, Raven was charged with being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine and heroin.

He appeared at Cardiff Crown Court on October 29, 2026, where he was jailed for a further six years. Don’t miss a court report by signing up to our crime newsletter here

Detective Constable Daniel Davies, said: "This investigation demonstrates our determination to target those who continue to profit from the misery caused by Class A drugs.

"Despite having previously received a substantial prison sentence, Raven once again found himself at the centre of a drugs supply operation.

"The communities of the Vale of Glamorgan can be reassured that we will continue to relentlessly pursue those involved in the supply of illegal drugs and bring them before the courts."

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