Drug dealer offered hundreds of pounds to someone who would commit arson attacks

A drug dealer has offered a bounty of hundreds of pounds to anyone who carries out firebombing attacks in his name. Michael Arundel sent a message to more than 1,000 people on the secure app Telegram, looking for an arsonist ready to set fire to a car and a house.

When police tracked Arundel down in Llanelli town centre, he fled, leaving behind half a kilo of cocaine worth more than £60,000. Subsequent searches of properties linked to the 34-year-old uncovered items including a police fleece jacket and a high-visibility safety vest.

Swansea Crown Court heard that on the night of February 28 this year, a black Audi parked on a street in Tycroes, near Ammanford, was set alight. Witnesses reported seeing a man throw something at the vehicle before it immediately exploded. The arsonist fled, but the Audi’s owner gave chase and recognised the fleeing man as someone with links to Arundel. Police were alerted to the incident and launched an investigation which included checking communications on the messaging app Telegram.

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The court heard that on the evening of April 28, Arundel sent a message saying: “Need house fire. Cash ready…Tycroes area. Good amount of cash for this job” followed by pictures of bags of cash. This was followed by a message saying: “Cash has been paid…this last job is done. Look what’s happening tonight (two laughing emojis)” followed by a message containing a series of emojis depicting three houses, three fires, three cars and three fires.

Due to the high-risk nature of the messages, Dyfed-Powys Police deployed two vehicles to the area and later that night the defendant posted a message in response to the increased police presence which read: “Feds everywhere (two laughing emojis). These police vans won’t be here all night… as soon as they leave it will happen, trust me! If they wait all night… it will happen tomorrow. You can’t delay the inevitable!! It is 100% happening.” The court heard that no arson had taken place at any house.

Three days later, police officers on patrol in Llanelli spotted Arundel fleeing along Marble Hall Road. As he fled, he tried to pull a plastic bag out of his pocket with the apparent intention of throwing it before falling to the ground and being restrained. Officers recovered the plastic bag which contained a half-kilo block of cocaine with a street value of up to £62,500. They also found a digital scale in Arundel’s pocket.

Investigations led police to a hotel in Llanelli where Arundel had booked a room and where police seized a phone. Officers then searched his home, seizing two more phones, as well as his work address where they seized another phone, a laptop, a police fleece jacket and high visibility vest, a set of scales and a clear bag with traces of white powder. Cannabis herb and an air rifle were also confiscated from a garage.