0:00:00 > 0:00:00- Subtitles
0:00:00 > 0:00:02- Subtitles- - Subtitles
0:00:07 > 0:00:10- Secrets...
0:00:10 > 0:00:12- ..lies...
0:00:12 > 0:00:14- ..deceit...
0:00:15 > 0:00:17- ..violence.
0:00:17 > 0:00:21- Every criminal case is a distinct - challenge for the detective.
0:00:24 > 0:00:29- To discover the truth, - they need patience and curiosity.
0:00:38 > 0:00:43- Forty years ago, one of the biggest - drugs investigations in Britain...
0:00:43 > 0:00:47- ..unmasked a gang who were producing - LSD for a global market...
0:00:47 > 0:00:49- ..from rural Wales.
0:00:53 > 0:00:57- Tonight, I'll talk to the detectives - who worked covertly on the case.
0:00:58 > 0:01:01- We had cameras and binoculars.
0:01:01 > 0:01:04- Nothing posh like they have today.
0:01:04 > 0:01:08- I'll hear about the effect the - investigation had on their lives.
0:01:09 > 0:01:12- Someone pulled up in a car - and shot my lounge window out.
0:01:32 > 0:01:34- Bristol, March 1978.
0:01:35 > 0:01:37- A team of detectives - were celebrating.
0:01:40 > 0:01:43- They had succeeded in smashing - an LSD drugs ring.
0:01:50 > 0:01:53- The investigation was called - Operation Julie...
0:01:53 > 0:01:56- ..after one of the detectives - on the team.
0:02:17 > 0:02:20- For me, the story starts - in rural West Wales.
0:02:20 > 0:02:24- It was home to one of the biggest - LSD factories in the world.
0:02:29 > 0:02:33- In the 1970s, LSD had become - a very popular drug.
0:02:33 > 0:02:37- Police forces across Britain - were trying to catch the gang...
0:02:37 > 0:02:41- ..who were producing and - distributing thousands of tablets.
0:02:43 > 0:02:49- One suspect was Richard Kemp, - originally from Bedford.
0:02:50 > 0:02:54- After a road accident near - Machynlleth in the spring of 1975...
0:02:55 > 0:02:59- ..an inspection of his car revealed - a key piece of evidence.
0:03:03 > 0:03:05- When they examined - the red Range Rover...
0:03:06 > 0:03:09- ..police found a scrap of paper torn - into six pieces.
0:03:09 > 0:03:13- When they put the pieces back - together, they could clearly read...
0:03:14 > 0:03:18- ..the name of the chemical, - hydrazine hydrate on the paper...
0:03:18 > 0:03:21- ..a key ingredient - in the manufacture of LSD.
0:03:26 > 0:03:31- By sheer luck, the detectives had - found the first piece of evidence...
0:03:31 > 0:03:35- ..that would lead to the breaking up - of the LSD ring.
0:03:39 > 0:03:43- A covert investigation - was launched in March 1976.
0:03:44 > 0:03:48- Twenty-four detectives from across - Britain were chosen to work on it...
0:03:48 > 0:03:53- ..under the supervision of Detective - Chief Inspector, Dick Lee.
0:03:53 > 0:03:56- Among them was a police officer - from Llanelli.
0:03:58 > 0:04:04- There was a great emphasis - on the fact...
0:04:05 > 0:04:11- ..that no-one must know - what we were doing.
0:04:11 > 0:04:14- That it was strictly confidential.
0:04:19 > 0:04:23- Although they didn't know the amount - of work that was in front of them...
0:04:23 > 0:04:26- ..one police officer from Barry...
0:04:26 > 0:04:31- ..felt that it was his personal and - moral duty to undertake this work.
0:04:31 > 0:04:34- We're part of a team - that will take out of society...
0:04:34 > 0:04:37- ..an evil that my children - will not have to face.
0:04:38 > 0:04:42- I knew what LSD could do - and if I was able in any way...
0:04:42 > 0:04:47- ..to rid us of the evil - that they might have to face...
0:04:48 > 0:04:52- ..then I was prepared - to go to the lengths.
0:05:00 > 0:05:04- In a fortnight, they were trained - to undertake covert surveillance.
0:05:05 > 0:05:08- And how to follow them on foot - or by car.
0:05:11 > 0:05:15- The first target, was the driver - of the Range Rover, Richard Kemp.
0:05:16 > 0:05:18- He had moved to Tregaron - with his partner.
0:05:23 > 0:05:25- It was here in Penlleinau...
0:05:25 > 0:05:29- ..that Richard Kemp lived with his - partner, Christine Bott.
0:05:29 > 0:05:33- Kemp was a talented English chemist - and Bott was a doctor.
0:05:33 > 0:05:36- They moved here from London - in the early 1970s.
0:05:36 > 0:05:40- To the community, they appeared - to be living a quiet life.
0:05:45 > 0:05:49- I didn't see her very day, - but I saw her occasionally.
0:05:49 > 0:05:52- When I passed by, - they were often in the garden.
0:05:52 > 0:05:55- They spent a lot of time - in the garden.
0:05:57 > 0:06:02- The detectives kept the house under - surveillance 24 hours a day.
0:06:02 > 0:06:05- They began to scrutinise - the couple's movements.
0:06:13 > 0:06:16- After a period of surveillance - of Richard Kemp...
0:06:16 > 0:06:19- ..and his partner, Christine Bott...
0:06:19 > 0:06:23- ..police noticed that they travelled - from their home near Tregaron...
0:06:23 > 0:06:25- ..to Plas Llysyn in Carno.
0:06:26 > 0:06:31- An American named Paul Arnaboldi - owned Plas Llysyn.
0:06:31 > 0:06:35- The team began to suspect that - the house was being used...
0:06:35 > 0:06:37- ..as a laboratory to produce LSD.
0:06:38 > 0:06:42- The task for Dai Rees - and his partner, Terry Stokes...
0:06:43 > 0:06:47- ..was to keep the house - under surveillance from a caravan.
0:06:47 > 0:06:52- The caravan was in the lane behind - us here in the corner of the park.
0:06:52 > 0:06:56- We put it in the corner - in that position...
0:06:56 > 0:07:01- ..so that we could see - the house clearly...
0:07:01 > 0:07:05- ..and we could see people - coming and going from the house.
0:07:08 > 0:07:11- We had to stay in the caravan - all day.
0:07:11 > 0:07:15- Then another shift would take over - in the evening.
0:07:15 > 0:07:19- We had to watch the house - through a small gap in the curtains.
0:07:22 > 0:07:26- They told local people that they - were surveyors searching for water.
0:07:27 > 0:07:31- They sent letters with a Llanelli - postmark to themselves...
0:07:31 > 0:07:35- ..in the hope that the postman - would spread their story.
0:07:38 > 0:07:40- It amazes me now - that no-one came up to us...
0:07:41 > 0:07:45- ..and said, - "What on earth are you doing here?"
0:07:45 > 0:07:46- But nobody did.
0:07:50 > 0:07:53- According to the farmer next door...
0:07:53 > 0:07:58- ..the community swallowed the story - about the men in the caravan.
0:07:58 > 0:08:02- They arrived overnight - and no-one took any notice.
0:08:02 > 0:08:05- The words Tyson Surveyors - was written on the caravan.
0:08:06 > 0:08:08- It was an odd thing - to be written on there...
0:08:09 > 0:08:11- ..and the curtains - were always closed.
0:08:11 > 0:08:13- I still remember that.
0:08:19 > 0:08:22- One night in May, - knowing that the place was empty...
0:08:23 > 0:08:26- ..the two detectives were ordered - to break into the house.
0:08:32 > 0:08:35- We entered through a window - that was open at the back.
0:08:39 > 0:08:41- We were very scared.
0:08:41 > 0:08:45- I feel scared even now - just thinking about it.
0:08:47 > 0:08:49- As they explored further...
0:08:50 > 0:08:53- ..they noticed that the lock - on the cellar door looked new.
0:08:56 > 0:08:57- This is part of the cellar.
0:08:59 > 0:09:04- It goes back further than this - underneath the house.
0:09:09 > 0:09:13- The cellar had been whitewashed - from top to bottom...
0:09:13 > 0:09:15- ..but was completely empty.
0:09:15 > 0:09:19- So they took swabs from the walls - and shelves.
0:09:22 > 0:09:24- On the way out through this door...
0:09:24 > 0:09:28- ..I said to Terry, - who was with me...
0:09:31 > 0:09:35- ..that it would be a good idea to - take a sample from this drain here.
0:09:36 > 0:09:39- So I put my hands in...
0:09:39 > 0:09:45- ..and pulled out a lump of earth - and a dead mole.
0:09:47 > 0:09:50- After sending the samples - to the laboratory...
0:09:50 > 0:09:54- ..forensic tests confirmed the - presence of LSD on the swabs...
0:09:54 > 0:09:56- ..and on the mole.
0:09:57 > 0:10:00- It proved without a doubt...
0:10:00 > 0:10:04- ..that a laboratory - had been based here...
0:10:04 > 0:10:08- ..and had been producing LSD - for quite some time.
0:10:09 > 0:10:12- To be perfectly honest...
0:10:12 > 0:10:16- ..I felt very proud to have been - part of this investigation.
0:10:18 > 0:10:21- But, at that time, - no-one was arrested.
0:10:22 > 0:10:26- The team suspected that there was - a much deeper network here...
0:10:27 > 0:10:30- ..and that they had only - scratched the surface...
0:10:30 > 0:10:33- ..when they found the LSD lab - in Carno.
0:10:36 > 0:10:38- At the end of June 1976...
0:10:38 > 0:10:42- ..two detectives moved into - this cottage near Tregaron...
0:10:42 > 0:10:45- ..across the valley - from Penlleiniau.
0:10:45 > 0:10:48- It was the home of chemist, - Richard Kemp.
0:10:49 > 0:10:53- There were microphones installed in - the window sills of his property.
0:10:55 > 0:11:01- My job, then, was to run a cable - from our cottage, up the hillside...
0:11:01 > 0:11:05- ..where I then installed - a miniature speech receiver...
0:11:05 > 0:11:11- ..to pick up any conversations - we could achieve from Kemp's house.
0:11:14 > 0:11:18- The first try was aborted somewhat - by the sheep eating the cable...
0:11:18 > 0:11:21- ..which meant I had to run it - all over again.
0:11:21 > 0:11:24- On the second try, my receiver - was able to pick it up.
0:11:29 > 0:11:33- The Operation Julie team watched - Penlleiniau behind me...
0:11:33 > 0:11:35- ..from these hills for months.
0:11:35 > 0:11:38- They took turns watching - the inhabitants...
0:11:38 > 0:11:41- ..and they listened - to every conversation...
0:11:41 > 0:11:44- ..hoping to discover a connection - to a gang in London.
0:11:45 > 0:11:49- But while the detectives were - watching and eavesdropping...
0:11:50 > 0:11:52- ..Christine Bott flew - to Switzerland...
0:11:53 > 0:11:55- ..buying her ticket with cash.
0:11:55 > 0:11:59- In Zurich, she put 16,000 - in a safety deposit box.
0:12:03 > 0:12:05- But, were the couple about to flee?
0:12:05 > 0:12:09- Did the drugs ring stretch - beyond UK borders?
0:12:10 > 0:12:14- Detectives were running out of time - to destroy the entire network...
0:12:14 > 0:12:18- ..before their covert investigation - was discovered.
0:12:18 > 0:12:19- .
0:12:20 > 0:12:20- Subtitles
0:12:20 > 0:12:22- Subtitles- - Subtitles
0:12:29 > 0:12:35- In May 1976, the Operation Julie - team discovered an LSD lab...
0:12:35 > 0:12:37- ..at an isolated mansion in Carno.
0:12:42 > 0:12:45- But large bits of the jigsaw - were still missing.
0:12:48 > 0:12:53- Two undercover detectives moved into - the village of Llanddewi Brefi...
0:12:53 > 0:12:55- ..about fifty miles from Carno.
0:12:56 > 0:12:59- They were to observe the movements - of a certain Alston Hughes.
0:12:59 > 0:13:04- Known as Smiles, he was suspected of - being one of the main distributors.
0:13:04 > 0:13:08- Smiles would often come in - for a drink.
0:13:08 > 0:13:10- He used to buy drinks for everyone.
0:13:11 > 0:13:13- He did things like that.
0:13:13 > 0:13:19- That's why he was so popular - with the youngsters.
0:13:19 > 0:13:22- This is the detective - who was given the task...
0:13:23 > 0:13:25- ..of making friends with Smiles.
0:13:25 > 0:13:28- Stephen Bentley from Hampshire - Police grew a beard...
0:13:28 > 0:13:32- ..and painted his van so he could - fit in with the local hippies.
0:13:33 > 0:13:35- He lived a lie - in order to be accepted.
0:13:37 > 0:13:40- Smiles was a wary character.
0:13:40 > 0:13:44- It wasn't easy to persuade him that - we weren't undercover cops.
0:13:47 > 0:13:49- But we got on well with him.
0:13:49 > 0:13:53- We visited his home on many - occasions where we played cards...
0:13:53 > 0:13:55- ..drank a lot of beer...
0:13:55 > 0:13:59- ..drank liquor, smoked a lot of - weed, smoked a lot of hash.
0:13:59 > 0:14:03- Eventually, as we got to know him - more and more...
0:14:03 > 0:14:05- ..even cocaine was produced.
0:14:06 > 0:14:07- The deception worked.
0:14:08 > 0:14:12- The detective was accepted - into the circle of friends.
0:14:12 > 0:14:15- In November, - without Smiles knowing...
0:14:15 > 0:14:18- ..other detectives followed him - to a pub near Lampeter...
0:14:18 > 0:14:21- ..after listening in - to one of his phone calls.
0:14:21 > 0:14:24- One day, - as the police were listening...
0:14:24 > 0:14:29- ..they heard Smiles arranging to - meet a man called Russ Spencely...
0:14:29 > 0:14:33- ..who said that he had over 50,000 - tablets ready for him.
0:14:33 > 0:14:35- They met here at the Ram...
0:14:35 > 0:14:39- ..where Spencely handed Smiles - a white plastic bag in the pub.
0:14:39 > 0:14:41- But what the pair didn't know...
0:14:41 > 0:14:45- ..was that there were undercover - detectives watching them.
0:14:58 > 0:15:03- But again, the detectives decided - to wait, so no-one was arrested.
0:15:08 > 0:15:11- The team suspected that there was - a second factory somewhere...
0:15:11 > 0:15:15- ..because there were two different - types of LSD on the streets.
0:15:16 > 0:15:20- In London, another man came - to the attention of detectives.
0:15:20 > 0:15:23- Henry Barclay Todd.
0:15:23 > 0:15:25- Dai Rees was given the task...
0:15:26 > 0:15:30- ..of watching Todd's Kensington - house from this van on the street.
0:15:31 > 0:15:35- There was a periscope - on top of the van...
0:15:35 > 0:15:41- ..so I could sit in a chair, - turn it quietly and keep watch.
0:15:41 > 0:15:45- I could take photos if necessary.
0:15:47 > 0:15:51- After watching his movements - for six months...
0:15:51 > 0:15:55- ..they noticed that Todd regularly - visited this house...
0:15:55 > 0:16:00- ..in Hampton Wick in the company - of a man named Andy Munro.
0:16:01 > 0:16:03- Munro was a chemist.
0:16:03 > 0:16:06- The two were observed carrying - scientific equipment...
0:16:06 > 0:16:08- ..and chemicals into the house.
0:16:11 > 0:16:16- These details were accumulating - every day...
0:16:16 > 0:16:19- ..until the jigsaw was complete.
0:16:20 > 0:16:23- The last piece was the big bust.
0:16:25 > 0:16:28- After watching them covertly - for 13 months...
0:16:29 > 0:16:32- ..the police were now ready - to bring the gang to court.
0:16:35 > 0:16:40- But arresting the whole gang at the - same time would be impossible...
0:16:40 > 0:16:42- ..for the Operation Julie team.
0:16:42 > 0:16:44- The timing of the raid was key.
0:16:47 > 0:16:51- In West Wales, - a group of local police officers...
0:16:51 > 0:16:55- ..were called to a top secret - meeting in the middle of the night.
0:17:01 > 0:17:05- We soon realized - how big the operation was.
0:17:05 > 0:17:08- There were police everywhere.
0:17:12 > 0:17:15- Even the local police didn't know - anything...
0:17:15 > 0:17:19- ..because it was top secret - until the very last minute.
0:17:21 > 0:17:25- This was one of the biggest raids...
0:17:25 > 0:17:28- ..in Britain at the time.
0:17:28 > 0:17:32- It was the biggest raid we would - ever undertake in our careers.
0:17:32 > 0:17:36- It wasn't until afterwards - that we realized how big it was.
0:17:41 > 0:17:45- On March 26, 1977, - at 6.00am exactly...
0:17:46 > 0:17:51- ..800 police officers targeted 70 - addresses across Britain and France.
0:17:51 > 0:17:55- Within an hour, - over 100 people had been arrested...
0:17:55 > 0:17:58- ..and were on their way - to Swindon Police Station.
0:18:00 > 0:18:04- The 4,000 pieces of evidence - filled the gym.
0:18:06 > 0:18:11- At Smiles' house, - they found 14,000 in a cereal box.
0:18:14 > 0:18:18- In a dung heap in the garden of Kemp - and Bott in Penlleiniau...
0:18:18 > 0:18:22- ..they discovered - over a million LSD tablets.
0:18:23 > 0:18:27- They also raided this house - in the Dordogne area of France...
0:18:27 > 0:18:30- ..which belonged - to one of the dealers.
0:18:30 > 0:18:34- In the office, - there was valuable paperwork...
0:18:34 > 0:18:36- ..exposing the entire network.
0:18:36 > 0:18:40- Dai Rees was one of those who - trawled through evidence there.
0:18:42 > 0:18:47- There were bank receipts - from all over the world.
0:18:47 > 0:18:53- From New Zealand to the Americas, - Australia and Hong Kong.
0:18:53 > 0:18:58- It was incredible to think - that I'd found such treasure.
0:19:03 > 0:19:06- Back in Swindon, the team were - collecting the material...
0:19:07 > 0:19:09- ..that would prove their case.
0:19:09 > 0:19:12- Armed police were brought in - to protect the evidence.
0:19:14 > 0:19:18- They had a total of over 6.5 million - LSD tablets...
0:19:18 > 0:19:23- ..over a 1 million in cash, shares - and a one kilo gold bar.
0:19:28 > 0:19:31- After digging deeper - and taking up the floor...
0:19:31 > 0:19:36- ..of Kemp's kitchen near Tregaron, - they found three jars of pure LSD...
0:19:36 > 0:19:39- ..worth 100 million.
0:19:47 > 0:19:50- In March 1978, - at Bristol Crown Court...
0:19:50 > 0:19:53- ..fifteen of the ringleaders - were sentenced...
0:19:53 > 0:19:56- ..to a total of 120 years in prison.
0:19:58 > 0:20:04- Richard Kemp, the chemist - from Tregaron got thirteen years.
0:20:05 > 0:20:07- His partner, Christine Bott, - got nine years.
0:20:08 > 0:20:11- Alston Hughes or Smiles, - was sentenced to eight years.
0:20:21 > 0:20:24- The Operation Julie team - were highly praised...
0:20:24 > 0:20:26- ..for their work by the judge.
0:20:28 > 0:20:31- But the two and a half year - investigation...
0:20:31 > 0:20:34- ..had been a huge strain - on the detectives.
0:20:37 > 0:20:41- And for this man, keeping the secret - had been a great burden.
0:20:42 > 0:20:45- The only person I ever told - was my wife.
0:20:47 > 0:20:49- There are times when I've cried - to my wife...
0:20:49 > 0:20:52- ..with the pure stress - of the operation.
0:20:53 > 0:20:56- As the detectives smashed - the network...
0:20:56 > 0:20:59- ..David Redrup himself - became a target.
0:21:01 > 0:21:04- Someone pulled up in a car - and shot my lounge window out.
0:21:04 > 0:21:08- As a result, we had to have armed - police outside the house...
0:21:08 > 0:21:10- ..for several weeks afterwards.
0:21:11 > 0:21:14- Both looking after the house - and taking the kids to school.
0:21:15 > 0:21:19- Stephen Bentley has created a new - life for himself once again.
0:21:19 > 0:21:21- This time in the Philippines.
0:21:22 > 0:21:25- The undercover life he lived - in Llanddewi Brefi...
0:21:25 > 0:21:28- ..damaged his career and his life.
0:21:29 > 0:21:33- I became very depressed while I was - still in the police force.
0:21:34 > 0:21:37- The alcohol abuse continued...
0:21:37 > 0:21:41- ..as indeed did the use of drugs.
0:21:57 > 0:22:00- Dai Rees was a young man of 35...
0:22:01 > 0:22:04- ..when he began the life - of an undercover detective.
0:22:05 > 0:22:08- Forty years later, - he treasures the memories.
0:22:10 > 0:22:12- I was always glad to go home.
0:22:14 > 0:22:19- But, also, I was very proud - to think...
0:22:20 > 0:22:23- ..that a team of young men...
0:22:23 > 0:22:26- ..had been so successful.
0:22:26 > 0:22:29- But, believe me, there were times...
0:22:29 > 0:22:33- ..when things were extremely - difficult.
0:22:38 > 0:22:40- After it was all over...
0:22:40 > 0:22:45- ..and we'd jailed so many people...
0:22:45 > 0:22:49- ..I felt like - we'd won the triple crown.
0:23:04 > 0:23:07- With the gang locked up, - it was said at the time...
0:23:08 > 0:23:11- ..that the price of one LSD tablet - rose from 1 to 5.
0:23:11 > 0:23:14- And that the investigation - had got rid of 90%...
0:23:14 > 0:23:17- ..of all the LSD - that was available in Britain.
0:23:18 > 0:23:21- Certainly, Operation Julie - was one of the most successful...
0:23:21 > 0:23:25- ..drugs investigations - in British criminal history.
0:23:48 > 0:23:50- S4C Subtitles by Testun Cyf.
0:23:51 > 0:23:51- .