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Drug gang imported £11m worth of cannabis into Wales, including Pembrokeshire

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Eleven convicted over parcel delivery operation smuggling drugs from the US

A MAJOR drug trafficking network supplying cannabis across Wales – including Pembrokeshire – has been brought down following a two-year investigation by the Tarian Regional Organised Crime Unit (ROCU).

Eleven members of the organised crime group have now been convicted of conspiracy to import and supply Class B drugs after evidence showed they were receiving large quantities of cannabis from the United States via international parcel delivery services.

The gang, headed by 28-year-old Abubakr Khawar from Riverside, Cardiff, is believed to have been importing around 23 kilos of cannabis a week, with estimated sales of more than £10,000 per day. Parcels were concealed in vacuum packs and disguised as innocent items such as clothing and toys.

Some of the cannabis was distributed into Pembrokeshire, The Herald understands, as part of a wider supply network across south Wales.

Recruited individuals were paid between £50 and £200 to receive the deliveries at addresses throughout the region. The parcels, once landed, were overseen by Mohammed Hussain, also 28 and from Cardiff.

On December 9, 2024, coordinated raids were carried out by Tarian, South Wales Police and British Transport Police, leading to the arrest of those involved.

The following individuals have now pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class B drugs and conspiracy to import cannabis:

  • Abubakr Khawar, 28, Riverside, Cardiff (pleaded March 19)
  • Daniel Marshall, 40, Treharris, Merthyr Tydfil (April 4)
  • Andrew Pethers, 36, St Mellons, Cardiff (May 13)
  • Sophie Jones, 32, Splott, Cardiff (May 23)
  • Kyle Solowyk, 29, Barry (May 23)
  • Ceiron Jones, 28, Whitchurch, Cardiff (May 1)
  • Solomon Bertram, 36, Llanishen, Cardiff (March 19)

All were remanded in custody ahead of sentencing.

Two others, Mohammed Nurul Hussain, 28, and Abdu Huriara Husain, 28, both from Cardiff, initially pleaded guilty to supplying Class B drugs and later changed their pleas to guilty for importation during a trial earlier this month.

Sean Montgomery, 24, of Rumney, Cardiff, and Steven Munroe, 44, of Riverside, Cardiff, denied both charges but were found guilty following a trial at Newport Crown Court on Wednesday (June 11).

Sentencing is scheduled to begin on September 10, 2025.

Detective Constable Sean Meyrick of Tarian ROCU said: “I welcome the verdicts reached today and await the outcome of the sentencing hearing. I would like to thank Border Force for their assistance in this investigation, and colleagues at Tarian and our constituent forces.”

Crime

Man charged with strangulation and assault offences after October incident

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A MAN recorded in court as having no fixed abode has appeared before magistrates charged with intentional strangulation and two further assault offences.

Michael Sudbury, 50, whose address was not read out in court, but in Herald records is Glan Hafan, Llangwm, appeared before the bench facing multiple charges.

The charges relate to an incident on 22 October 2025 and include:

  • Intentional strangulation, contrary to section 75A of the Serious Crime Act 2015
  • Common assault
  • Assault by beating

No further details of the alleged incident were opened in court, and no plea was entered at this stage.

Sudbury was remanded on conditional bail, with the case listed to return to magistrates later this month.

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Crime

Haverfordwest man sent to Crown Court on multiple serious charges

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Defendant remanded in custody

A HAVERFORDWEST man has been sent to Swansea Crown Court to stand trial on a series of A 49-year-old Haverfordwest resident has been committed to Swansea Crown Court to face trial on multiple serious charges deemed too grave for magistrates to handle.

David Guy, of Market Street, Haverfordwest, appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates facing a series of allegations stemming from a single case. The charges, which were not detailed in open court, include:

  • Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH)
  • A second count of assault
  • Criminal damage
  • An additional allegation of interpersonal violence
  • A public order offence

Magistrates declined jurisdiction, determining that the matters exceeded their sentencing powers, and sent the case in its entirety to Swansea Crown Court.

Guy was remanded in custody pending his next appearance. The court register notes: “Sent to Crown Court for trial in custody – next hearing at Swansea Crown Court.”

A date for the initial Crown Court hearing will be set administratively. Guy will remain in custody until then.

The Pembrokeshire Herald will provide further updates as the case progresses in the Crown Court.

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Crime

Castlemartin man back before magistrates over multiple alleged assaults

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Defendant remanded on conditional bail ahead of further hearing

A CASTLEMARTIN man has appeared repeatedly before magistrates this month over a string A 40-year-old man from Castlemartin has made repeated appearances before magistrates this month in connection with a series of serious alleged offences, including assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH), intentional non-fatal strangulation, common assault, and criminal damage.

Anthony Alcock, of Pwll Street, Castlemartin, is facing six linked charges stemming from incidents said to have occurred earlier this year. These appear to relate to the same complainant in what is understood to be a single ongoing domestic abuse prosecution.

During recent administrative hearings at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court, Alcock did not enter pleas while matters of bail and case management were addressed.

Charges Include:

  • Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH)
  • Intentional non-fatal strangulation
  • Common assault on a woman
  • Criminal damage in a domestic context
  • Additional assault allegations involving the same complainant
  • Breach of bail conditions

Alcock was initially granted conditional bail but was subsequently brought before the court on two occasions for alleged breaches. On those instances, magistrates remanded him in custody ahead of further hearings. He was later re-granted conditional bail, subject to strict conditions such as no contact with the complainant and exclusion from specified locations.

Magistrates have now declined jurisdiction, ruling that the case—particularly the more serious charges involving non-fatal strangulation—is too grave for summary trial. It has been committed to Swansea Crown Court for plea, trial, or sentencing.

No detailed evidence has been presented in open court at this preliminary stage. Alcock remains on conditional bail pending his next appearance at the Crown Court.

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