15/12/2015 BBC Wales Today

Welcome to Wales Today. Our top stories:

Jail for the gang caught conspiring to supply ?5 million

It is the largest in Wales that has ever been seized.

To put that into perspective, it has got a street value

of about ?5 million and if you were to break that down

into individual deals, individual doses, that is almost ?500,000.

Tonight, police warn there are more seizures of the drug

here than anywhere else outside London.

They abandoned five children, led a secret life, but did

Lee Ann Sabine kill her husband and hide his body?

Tonight, police probe their finances.

Ten refugees from Syria arrive in Aberystwyth.

Seconds out - Nigel Farage and Carwyn Jones will go

head-to-head debating the UK's membership of the European Union.

Ollie was born with a rare facial defect.

Tonight his mum says it's time to stop stigmatising people

All these Internet trolls, it is just pathetic really.

They are writing what they think is right but they are not actually

sat there dealing with what is going on in my life

Two heroin dealers and eight of their gang members,

described as the most serious criminals ever seen in Wales,

have been sentenced to a total of nearly a hundred years in prison.

?5 million worth of the drug was seized during one of the largest

undercover operations ever mounted by Welsh police.

It comes as official figures show there have been more heroin seizures

across the South Wales force area recently than anywhere

There are flashing images at the start of Jordan Davies' report.

The moment undercover police had been working towards for months.

The car in front had been followed across the Welsh border onto the M5.

What was found inside surprised even the most hardened officers.

35 kilograms of heroin - the largest single seizure ever made

Hidden inside this speaker and a suitcase.

The total street value of the drugs seized -

The officer in charge of the case says this one operation has had

It is the largest in Wales that has ever been seized. To put that into

perspective, it has got a street value of about ?5 million and if you

break that down into individual deals, individual doses, that is

almost ?500,000 of street deals. Today, ten people were sentenced

to a total of nearly a hundred years in prison for their part

in this conspiracy. They were led by two men ?

Imtiaz Ali from Newport Described as "experienced",

convicted "drug dealers". And heroin remains an issue in South

Wales. Official figures show

there were more heroin seizures across the South Wales Police force

area than anywhere else in Wales and England outside London

for at least the last three years. Last year the force made 303

seizures for every million people That's more than double the average

for Wales and England. South Wales Police says this is down

to the work of the organised crime unit. And we have been given rare

access to an officer at the heart of the fight against organised crime.

We can't identify him because of his work but he has been part of some of

the most sensitive investigations in Wales for the last decade. He says

organised crime groups are becoming more sophisticated. I would say this

enquiry was one of the largest enquiries I have been involved in in

both the seizure and the nature of the enquiry. Over 15 years of covert

policing experience, it resulted in a number of multiple days of

surveillance taking place that would in able as to gather the evidence

that city with the conviction against these defendants. How

sophisticated are the tactics you are coming up against? They are

keeping track with modern day technology, which shows the level of

commitment we must make both in the background, to keep parallel with

them and to find ways of overcoming this and attacking them and

dismantling these. Today, judge Stephen Hopkins QC said

these were "industrial But figures suggest the fight

against heroin in South And as one crime group

is sentenced, another is willing Police investigating the couple

at the centre of a murder investigation in Rhondda Cynon Taf

say they're now looking The remains of John Sabine

were found wrapped in plastic in the garden of a flat in Beddau

earlier this month. His late wife Lee Ann Sabine

is the prime suspect. It's also emerged that the couple

were investigated in New Zealand for abandoning their five children

and changing their identities. Caroline Evans is in

Beddau for us tonight. Jamie, when a body was discovered

just outside these flats, That disbelief only grew when it

turned out the remains were those of man who was probably killed

by his own wife, who then concealed Well, this story has

taken yet another turn. It's now emerged that the couple

were notorious in New Zealand for abandoning their five children

and this murder investigation is now Welsh please have discovered

the body of a man wrapped in plastic who they believe was buried

in a garden nearly 20 years ago. It is an extraordinary story now

leading the news on both sides Will you please get

out of the house? A tumultuous family history,

this old footage shows the couple's two daughters confronting

them, demanding answers By 1997, the couple had

moved to Beddau. That same year, it's now thought,

John Sabine vanished, Last month, after Lee Ann died

from cancer, his remains were found wrapped in plastic in the back

garden of the flat. Within weeks, police had

named her as the prime But this story really began

in the late '60s when the couple abandoned their five children

in New Zealand and moved In the '80s, they returned

to New Zealand and, at the time, I got a phone call, they rang me up,

and it was quite emotional really. The good thing is that

you are living with your parents, not relying on foster

parents or anything, who would never treat

you the same as their own kids. When I first met them,

I was just coming from a rough patch and I was just coming right

and since I've met my parents, But daughters Jane and

Leanne were frustrated. Shortly after this altercation,

their parents left again, They did not want us

from the start, did they? I mean, I feel like I have never had

a real sense of belonging and I may Former journalist Geneve Westcott,

who reported on their return to New Zealand in the 1980s,

says she's not surprised This was not a well-balanced

couple at all. When we initially approached them,

they denied it, of course. They said the children

were mentally unstable, that they were lying,

that they were not their children, but they were the ones who had been

lying for so many years. I hate to say it, I am not

the least bit surprised. Their son Stephen is reported

as saying he now regards his mother as evil and he would like to come

to his father's funeral Meanwhile, detectives

here are looking into the couple's finances and want to hear

from anyone who knew So, Caroline, where does the murder

investigation go from here? Jamie, tonight, that investigation

continues with police still trying to find out where John Sabine's body

could have been all these years. It's also significant that police

are investigating the couple's finances because, of course,

he was never reported missing They are working on the basis

that he may have been killed in 1997 because they have no

sightings of him after that. They've set up an incident room

and are appealing to the public But with John Sabine's wife,

the prime suspect in this murder investigation, being dead herself,

this may be a crime Around 30 protesters gathered

outside the home of a paedophile Pensioner Phillip Nigel Hewitt last

week admitted in court to making, possessing and distributing indecent

images of children. Locals are concerned that he has

been allowed to continue living near a primary school

until his sentencing next month. The Neonatal Unit at

the University Hospital of Wales Pembrokeshire Council's planning

committee have turned down an application to use waste

from the oil industry Barcud Energy wanted to develop

a Pyrolysis plant in Pembroke Dock The application was recommended

for refusal on the basis that the site is in a flood zone

and may have an impact Ten refugees from Syria have arrived

in Aberystwyth as part of the first Ceredigion Council have confirmed

they arrived at the end of last week and are being housed in private

rented accommodation in the town. The UK Government is giving

all refugees who are being brought here under

the Syrian Vulnerable Person Resettlement Programme five years'

humanitarian protection status. More than four million Syrians have

been forced to escape the relentless The vast majority live

in overcrowded refugee camps. The UK has promised to rehome

thousands and the first Ten are making their home

here in Aberystwyth, living in private

rented accommodation. The response has been positive. I

have been approached by a number of people offering clothing,

accommodation and also accommodation -- linguistic stills because they

will be speaking Arabic. The refugees have endured a brutal civil

war for the last five years. 250,000 Syrians have lost their lives and

millions have fled their homes. We have been unable to meet the ten who

have been relocated to Aberystwyth as we have been told they need

privacy to rebuild their lives. To help the refugees,

the Welsh Government has drawn up this Welcome to Wales guide,

which covers a range of items, including Welsh phrases they might

hear on the streets of Aberystwyth. Ceredigion Council are

co-ordinating it all. They are just settling in at the

moment. They have been through a lot to get here so it is early days. I

have met them a couple of times for very short periods. They are happy,

they are believed to be here, they are smiling. -- relieved.

Since the attacks in Paris, there has been fear of a rise

in Islamophobia, but people in the town want to help.

I think it is good that we are helping them. The more we can do the

better. We have to take responsibility for what we have

caused. I'd think we are in enough. -- I don't think.

The UK Government is aiming to resettle 1,000 Syrians

50 were expected in Wales by the end of the year.

They will certainly check them against extremist views and

criminality and only then will they be accepted.

As donations still come in to the local Red Cross shop,

the charity says the refugees are incredibly grateful

They will start English lessons and the children will be starting

at their new schools after the Christmas break.

Much more to come before seven o'clock:

Nigel Farage and Carwyn Jones will slug it out debating the UK's

And Ollie was born with a rare facial condition.

Tonight his mum's heartfelt plea not to stigmatize people

You'd expect the police to look after the most vulnerable in society

who become victims of crime - young people who run away,

disabled people or those who suffer domestic abuse.

Three out of the four Welsh forces need to improve,

Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary has judged

Gwent Police to be the only force here performing well in every area.

He was physically abusive towards me.

He would pull my hair and punch me and smash my head.

Quite a lot of things, physical and emotional abuse.

The words of a young mother from the Gwent area.

We have re-voiced her story to protect her identity as she told

us about the extra support she received to move house,

away from her abuser, with her children.

People need to know there are people out there who can help because a lot

of people don't want to pick up the phone and phone the police

People need to know there are people who help you and are there for you

and make you feel safe and you have somebody there.

This is where she got that extra help.

Connect Gwent was set up in April this year.

Police officers here are now regularly identifying vulnerable

victims and making sure they refer them to a whole host

It could be for domestic abuse or just advice to an older person

Perhaps putting people in touch with mental health services

or finding out why a young person keeps going missing.

The police forces do have similar projects

but not as many different expertise all in one place.

We are really pleased to be one of 12 forces in the country

Mistakes, and they were mistakes, that were made previously with some

high-profile domestic violence cases have been noted and the service

we are giving is far better and those that are in acute need

of assistance around domestic violence are getting

Forces across Wales are getting better in some areas but most

require improvement, according to inspectors.

In North Wales, when reports are made about child sexual

exploitation, the force does not always accurately identify people

who are vulnerable as soon as they get in contact.

Dyfed-Powys Police are advised to make sure that staff

with the appropriate professional skills and experience investigate

South Wales Police is praised for some of its work with domestic

abuse victims but does not fully understand the nature and scale

All forces in Wales say they have made changes since this inspection

and some are disappointed that is not fully recognised

Protecting some of the most vulnerable people in Wales

is not an easy task but we now know what progress is still to be made.

Money saving cuts in the number of roads gritted by Welsh councils

The Prince of Wales met medics at Wales' first integrated

The Prince tried his hand at some medical training at the ?35 million

Kier Hardy University Health Park in Merthyr Tydfil.

The facility offers health and social care services,

along with an academic centre, which opened to medical

The First Minister, Carwyn Jones, and the UKIP Leader,

Nigel Farage, will go head-to-head next month.

They'll be hoping to knock spots off each other in the debate on the big

question we'll all soon be facing - should the UK remain a member

This January, live from Cardiff, two political heavyweights do battle

over Europe. In the red corner, fighting to remain in the EU,

Labour's Arwyn Jones. And in the purple corner, battling to leave,

Ukip's Nigel Farage. But can either deliver a knockout blow? Let's get

ready for a referendum rumble. One of them is a passionate

Europhile who spars with Assembly Members every week. The greatest

risk to farming is the loss of the European market. The other, the arch

Eurosceptic who has met some Prizefighter is on the big stage.

Let's take back control of our country, take back control of our

borders. Now they will face each other to debate whether voters

should throw in the towel on the European Union. It has taken months

of graft by a think tank to arrange. Nigel Farage has got a standard

script, we know what he is going to say, he is going to be saying

damaging and dangerous things about immigration. But that is priced in

so we know that is going to happen. Does he know enough about Wales?

Will he be able to answer those questions? Is he good at taking a

brief like that? Will Carwyn Jones be able to appeal to the heart and

soul not just the brain? It is whether either will be able to

confound those expectations. So why has Carwyn Jones agreed to this

match? He saw Leanne Wood score some points off Nigel Farage in the

leaders debates before the general election. Perhaps he fancies some of

that himself. But there are risks. Opinion polls suggest Nigel Farage

wiped the floor with Nick Clegg when they debated the merits of the

European Union in 2014. Public opinion is finely balanced. The

venue for the debate has not been announced yet. Neither have details

about whether it will be broadcast. But unlike the referendum they will

be discussing, they know when it will be happening. January 11.

So, Dan, do we know where public opinion lies on this?

There was a poll this month of Welsh voters showing that perhaps they are

voting in Nigel Farage's direction. A small margin in favour of leaving

the European Union. It is too early to say whether that is eight trend.

But it is a contrast with the last two years, suggesting those people

agree with Arwyn Jones and we should stay in the European Union. Across

the UK, a lot will depend on what David Cameron can negotiate with

other European leaders. The next stage of that in Brussels later this

week. Carwyn Jones' people say they did not go looking for this debate

with Nigel Farage but they are happy to take part. They say they are

passionately pro-European and his tactics will be to target your

pocket and say businesses will lose out if we are outside the EU,

farming in particular, the state has spent millions of pounds of European

money. The stakes are high, not just because of the European election --

referendum but also the Assembly elections in May.

Rugby now, and Wales and Blues fly-half Rhys Patchell will be

playing for the Scarlets next season.

The 22-year-old insists he will continue to give his all

to the Blues until the end of the season and will leave Cardiff

Scarlets head coach Wayne Pivac says twice-capped Patchell will be used

at fly-half next season, but there's no guarantee

It will be an opportunity for him to play in a 10 jersey,

which is the reason for him wanting to come to the Scarlets.

We have a position there that we have not been totally

happy with, and none of the 10s have really nailed it this year.

There is still a long way to go this season

and they are going to have an opportunity to do that.

But Rhys is going to add to the mix in the backline.

Swansea City chairman Huw Jenkins is in South America as he steps up

Argentina's Marcelo Bielsa is the current favourite

The 60-year-old resigned from French club Marseille in August

He also had spells in charge of the Argentina

The Euro 2016 match between England and Wales next June will be shown

The BBC will also broadcast Wales' game against Slovakia.

Highlights of both matches, as well as Wales versus Russia,

The mother of a toddler in Maesteg born with a rare neural tube defect

is raising awareness of his condition to challenge

the stigma associated with facial disfigurement.

21-month-old Ollie has a rare condition called encephalocele,

which means his nose bones didn't fuse together and he was born

with a golf ball-sized mass on his face.

Like most other 21-month-old boys, Ollie from Maesteg likes playing

with blocks, watching cartoons and having a cwtch.

But when his mum had her 20-week scan, she was told something was not

I was back and forth in hospital, I had scans weekly, monthly,

It is hard to think about it without crying because the thought

of how many people were in the room and how much was going on and then

not knowing if Ollie was going to come out

and if he was going to be breathing, it was heartbreaking.

Ollie was born with a soft mass where his nose should be.

That was because of a nural tube defect.

As a result, a sack-like growth can develop through a crack in the skull

filled with brain fluid and membrane.

Amy was told Ollie was the first baby to be born

at the University Hospital of Wales with the condition

and it is so rare there are no national figures.

At nine months old, Ollie had a major operation to remove

the protrusion at a specialist centre in Birmingham

and his recovery has been remarkable.

Other children can be born like this, they have

got eyesight problems, they wear glasses.

It affects their life because it is their brain.

The whole function of the body can go.

But even though he is fighting fit, his mother Amy says fighting

the stigma is a constant battle both on the street and online.

All these Internet trolls, it is pathetic really.

They are writing what they think is right but they are not actually

sat there dealing with what is going on in my life and Ollie's life 24-7.

We all look different, just Ollie is distinctively different.

But it does not make him any different than what we are.

What would you say to parents who find themselves in the same

I would tell them not to worry because it will be fine in the end.

Personally, Ollie is Ollie. I would not change him.

And we wish Ollie and his mum all the best.

Let's see what the weather has in store for us.

It is a very mild night out there tonight. Even the daffodils are

confused. This is thanks to the milder air we are tracking in from

the Azores so the temperatures in double figures for most of us

tonight. We will see a few showers at first but overnight we will see

more persistent rain spreading from the south-west and it could be heavy

at times. Overnight temperature is no lower than 10 Celsius. Windy

conditions along the coast and on the hills where there are some deals

possible. Tomorrow, low-pressure controlling our weather is so

another unsettled day. Strong winds for the start of the morning but the

wind will ease as we go through the day. We will see some patchy rain

with some hints of brightness. Elsewhere, it will remain cloudy and

Risley with some mist and fog as well. But those temperatures,

12-15dC in December, it is very mild indeed. Tomorrow night, a band of

more persistent rain spreading from the south-west but it will push

through pretty quickly. It is another mild night. Those

temperatures no lower than 11 Celsius. And then we have got a cold

weather front bringing more rain with it on Wednesday, and with that

comes quite a bit of rain. The rain in the West gradually spreading

eastwards. Strong winds to go with it as well, especially along the

coast. It will become drier as we go into Thursday night. A touch cooler

on Friday but the return of the milder conditions in time for the

weekend and it will be wet as well. I'll have an update for you

here at 8:00pm and again after the BBC

News at 10:00pm.