A gang who tried to bring misery to the streets of Newport through their drug dealing and criminality has today been jailed for nearly 100 years at the conclusion of the third of three trials which dealt with their criminality.
Operation Rebus came about as a direct result of community concerns raised at PACT meetings in Newport which highlighted the impact that the supply of class A drugs was having on individuals, families and the wider community of Pill and Newport.
The sentences were handed down at Newport Crown Court at the end of an 18-month investigation by officers from Gwent Police who worked closely with West Midlands Police and who were supported by the specialist Regional Task Force.
The gang leader and main target of the operation was Taj Uddin, 34 of Clytha Street, Newport who was convicted of Conspiracy to supply Heroin. He was jailed for 14 years.
Uddin was bringing the drugs into Newport and then distributing them to others including Lewis Seivwright, 33, of Handsworth Street, Newport who was described in court as Udin’s “right hand man”. Seviwright was sentenced to 11 years.
Other members of the group were used to deal the drugs, conceal cash or drugs in their homes, and also to courier money. The others convicted for their part in this criminality were:
Amnit Ali, 43, from Walsall Road, Birmingham. He pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of Heroin and was sentenced to 6 years.
Ofe Ahmed, 31, from Romulus Close, Birmingham. He pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of Heroin and was sentenced to 5 years.
Gary Rabjohns, 21, from Handsworth Street, Newport. He pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to supply Heroin and was sentenced to 6 years.
Benjamin Brown, 26, from Jeddo Street, Newport. He pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to supply Heroin and was sentenced to 6 and a half years.
Lewis Mckenzie, 26, from Wolesely Street, Newport. He was found guilty of Conspiracy to supply Heroin and was sentenced to 4 years.
Silroy Bennet, 33, from Bolt Close, Newport. He was found guilty of Conspiracy to supply Heroin and was sentenced to 4 years.
Abdul Mohib, 23, from Birmingham. He pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of heroin and was sentenced to 15 months.
Shah Nizam Hussain, 26, from Birmingham. He pleaded guilty of entering into an arrangement to facilitate the acquisition, retention or control of criminal property contrary to section 328 of the Proceeds of Crime Act. He was sentenced to 9 months, suspended for 12 months.
Moason Ali from Newport. He pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to supply Heroin and was sentenced to 2 and a half years.
Perry Dunwell, Wolesely Street, Newport. He pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to supply Heroin and was sentenced to 7 years.
Evan Darren Jones, from Ridgeway, Newport. He pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to supply Heroin and was sentenced to 3 and a half years.
David Ismail, Baird Close, Newport. He pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to supply Heroin and was sentenced to 9 months.
Gareth Cureton, 28, from Witham Street, Newport. He pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to supply Heroin and was sentenced to 12 months suspended for 2 years.
Amir Ali, from Bedford Close, Newport. He pleaded guilty to Transferring Criminal property and was sentenced to 9 months, suspended for 12 months.
Tariq Hussain, 37, from Newport. He pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to supply Heroin and was sentenced to 4 years.
DETAILS OF PERSONS PREVIOULSY CONVICTED IN SEPARATE CASES BUT AS A RESULT OF OPERATION REBUS
David Clarke, from Newport. He pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to supply Heroin and was sentenced to 7 years
David Prince, from Newport. He pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to supply Heroin and was sentenced to 7 years
Ryan Nash, from Newport. He pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to supply Heroin and was sentenced to 2 1/2 years.
Superintendent Julian Knight who heads up local policing in Newport commented:
“This is an excellent result for what has been a complex investigation, requiring months of hard work and dedication by officers and staff. I am delighted that this investigation has stopped a significant amount of drugs from being supplied in Newport.”
“The most satisfying thing of all is that we have no doubt enhanced the quality of life of many people by taking this gang out of the community and allowed the criminal justice system to punish them.’
“Organised drug gangs wreak massive harm on vulnerable individuals, on families and on communities both in Newport and elsewhere. The higher level players are greedy, very often violent and devoid of social conscience. All they are bothered about is making money on the back of other people’s misery.”
As part of the investigation a total of a large amount of cash was seized and a considerable amount of class ‘A’ drugs were also confiscated.
The policing operation identified and dismantled the organised crime group who preyed on the most vulnerable within the local community. The Safer Newport Community Safety Partnership continues to invest considerable resources to provide treatment places for substance misuse and a range of support services to individuals to encourage them to manage effectively their habits and reduce the harm to both themselves and their families.
Superintendent Knight concluded:
“Restoring the confidence of the public remains our main objective and tackling drugs is a focal point of our activities at a local and regional level in partnership with other agencies.
We will not tolerate the small minority who attempt to bring misery to our neighbourhoods by dealing in drugs and committing crime. We would always encourage people to come forward and let us know about problems or concerns they have.”
We can then take positive action, which as we have seen today with these sentences can make a real difference. I would urge anyone who has any information drug dealing or criminality in their area to contact Gwent Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”
