Three men jailed after attempting to use Swansea woman's home as drugs base

Three men have been jailed after forcing their way into a woman’s home in Waun Wen, Swansea claiming a family member owed them a drugs debt.

31-year-old Saeed Afshar, from Barking, 26-year-old Gary Akister, from Swansea, and 25-year-old Tyrese Douglas, from Southwark, London, left the occupant of the home feeling scared for their safety when they stayed for four hours within the property. The men stashed drugs within the property after targeting the occupant for ‘cuckooing’.

Afshar and Akister then left to collect a further drugs debt elsewhere in Swansea, but they were soon arrested by officers.

Saeed Afshar and Gary Akister have been sentenced to eight years in prison. Tyrese Douglas has been sentenced to four years and nine months in prison.

Detective Inspector Richard George said:

“These three men, all of whom are connected to the “Gavin” drugs line, were clearly prepared to exploit vulnerable people in order to ensure that their illegal drugs money was coming in.

“The men were part of an organised crime group (OCG) which uses high levels of violence and intimidation in order to “cuckoo” innocent people into having their homes used for drugs operations.

“Often OCGs target people who are lonely, isolated, or have addiction issues. It's common for OCGs to use a property for a short amount of time, moving address frequently to reduce the chance of being caught.

“It is fortunate that, in this case, the brave victim was able to get help swiftly.”

What to do if you suspect someone you know is a victim of cuckooing

There are several signs to look out for that may indicate someone is a victim of cuckooing:
• frequent visitors at unsociable hours
• changes in your neighbour’s daily routine
• unusual smells coming from a property
• suspicious or unfamiliar vehicles outside an address

If you suspect this is the case, report it via 101. If somebody is in danger or if a crime is currently taking place, always ring 999.