SEVENTEEN people were sentenced yesterday following the largest policing operation in Gwent.

More than 250 police officers carried out raids as part of Operation Jewels on Wednesday, April 26 at addresses across Newport to tackle illegal drug supplies.

During the search of 14 houses, a quantity of cash, class A drugs and paraphernalia were seized.

In total, 32 people were arrested as part of the operation, 17 of those were sentenced yesterday at Newport Crown Court for numerous class A drug offences.

These include 53-year-old Andrew Hutchinson pleaded guilty to one count of supply and control class A heroin and was sentenced to two years eight months, 23-year-old Leighton Henson, of Ennerdale Court, pleaded guilty to supply and control of heroin and was sentenced to two years 10 months, 19-year-old Adil Hussain Ali, of Glebe Street, pleaded guilty to supply and control of heroin and class C drugs and was sentenced to two years eight months, 19-year-old Liam Taylor, of Comfrey Close, Newport pleaded guilty to supply, control and offering heroin and was sentenced to two years four months, 30-year-old Daniel Sullivan, of Bolt Close, Newport pleaded guilty to supply and control of cocaine and heroin and was sentenced to two years four months, 24-year-old David Rustham Allen, of Bolton Road, Newport pleaded guilty to supply and control of heroin and cocaine and was sentenced to three years four months, 30-year-old Lee Nagy, of Somerton Park, Newport was sentenced to three years nine months, 18-year-old Curtis Hooper pleaded guilty to two counts of supply and control of heroin and was sentenced to three years four months, 24-year-old Lawrence Henson pleaded guilty to supply and control heroin and was sentenced to two years eight months, 51-year-old Shane Edwards, of Albert Street, Newport pleaded guilty to supply and control heroin and was sentenced to two years four months, 31-year-old Gareth Micallef pleaded guilty to two counts of supply and control of heroin and was sentenced to five years seven months, 21-year-old Jason Baker, of Chaffinch Way, Newport pleaded guilty to supply and control of heroin and was sentenced to two years eight months, 20-year-old Adnan Ali, of Livingstone Place, Newport pleaded guilty to supply and control of heroin and was sentenced to five years seven months, 51-year-old Nigel Davies, of Sycamore Avenue, Newport pleaded guilty to three counts of supply and control of heroin and was sentenced to two years six months, 24-year-old Hardeep Dhatt Singh pleaded guilty to possess with intent to supply heroin and was sentenced to three years four months, 18-year-old Ellis Bates pleaded guilty to three counts of possess with intent to supply heroin and was sentenced to five years seven months and 46-year-old Timothy Lewis pleaded guilty to two counts of supply and control of heroin and was sentenced to nine months.

Marc Budden, who is chief superintendent who led the raids, said: "

“I’d like to thank members of the public for their help and support in providing us with information, to assist us to undertake such large scale action for the second time. I’d also like to thank our partners who assisted us with the planning and enforcement of the warrants including Newport Housing and Gwent’s Drug and Alcohol Service.

"Those who deal in the supply and distribution of class A drugs, don’t care about the impact it has on our communities here in Gwent."

He added that he hoped communities would continue to work with Gwent Police and that people can report drug dealings by calling 101.