Newport drugs gang jailed for nearly 30 years

Farah Hashi, Amjid Rafiq and Ryan Davies were running a “well-organised and sophisticated conspiracy” centred around a central mobile telephone line called the ‘Liam Line’.

A fourth defendant, mother-of-two Kaisha Griffiths who hid heroin under the stairs of her home for the operation, was handed a suspended prison sentence.

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Prosecutor Heath Edwards said the gang were sometimes raking in between £4,000 and £5,000 a day in their cash takings from selling drugs on the streets.

Newport Crown Court heard how they were primarily trafficking in the city but also had links as far afield as Swansea.

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Hashi, 29, of Francis Drive, Newport, was jailed for 14 years and four months.

Rafiq, 46, of Harrow Road, Newport, was locked up for eight years.

Davies, 29, of Monnow Way, Bettws, Newport, was sent to prison for six years.

Griffiths, 30, of Westfield Avenue, Newport, was jailed for two years, suspended for two years.

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When the police arrested the four, they recovered 1.75kg of heroin with a potential street value of £173,000 from different addresses in the city.

Farah Hashi

During the lifetime of the gang’s operation, between late last October and early this February, they had shifted 10kg of heroin and 1.5kg of cocaine.

In just over three months, they had made an estimated £320,000.

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Mr Edwards said: “Mr Hashi was the one who had overall control.

“Mr Rafiq was his righthand man.

“He was the one involved in the day-to-day running of the operation and Mr Davies assisted them.

Amjid Rafiq 

“Kaisha Griffiths had heroin stored under her stairs that was of a relatively high purity.”

The prosecutor added: “Mr Hashi called himself ‘Snoop’. Kaisha Griffiths was known as ‘Honey’.

“She was running a safe house for the storage of drugs.”

All four defendants pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply heroin and conspiracy to supply cocaine.

Ryan Davies

Davies committed his offences whilst on licence after being jailed in 2019 for possession of heroin and cocaine with intent to supply.

Matthew Buckland, representing Hashi, said his client, who was previously jailed for arson, had no previous drug trafficking convictions.

Emma Harris, for Rafiq, asked for his early guilty plea to be taken into account.

Ben Waters, mitigating for Davies, said: “There was no evidence of a lavish lifestyle and there were no designer goods.

“The defendant had no influence over others in the chain.”

Gareth Williams, for Griffiths, said she was a single mum who also looked after her mother and had no previous convictions.

Her barrister added: “The defendant has never been in trouble before and not a day goes by without her regretting what she has done.

“She will never ever make the same mistake again.”

The judge, Recorder David Elias QC, told the four: “This was a well-organised and sophisticated conspiracy.”

Turning to Hashi, he said: “You were evidently the leader who had overall control.

“It is clear you had a grudge of some sort with another dealer called ‘Uncle’ and you wished to take over his operation.

“You were the main mover.”

As well her suspended jail sentence, Griffiths was ordered to carry out 250 hours of unpaid work, complete a 15-day rehabilitation activity requirement and pay a £156 surcharge.

A fifth defendant linked to the case, Faye Climo is due to be sentenced on October 21 on a money laundering charge and was granted conditional bail.

The 43-year-old, of Fosse Road, Newport, pleaded guilty to possession of criminal property.

Outside the court, PC Luke Gallop, Gwent Police’s officer in the case, said: "Drugs destroy lives.

“Whether you're buying, selling or using them they can have serious and far-reaching consequences on individuals physically, mentally and financially.

"Hashi, Rafiq and Davies made their gains by exploiting vulnerable people and have shown very little remorse for their actions.

“They were bringing risk and danger to the doorsteps of communities in Newport and across South Wales.

"This investigation was a real team effort involving a wide range of officers from across the force to plan and execute a number of warrants.

“I would also like to thank those in the community who supported the police investigation.

“When there is a mutual goal of creating a safer neighbourhood between the police and the community, results like this can be achieved and those seeking to damage it, will not succeed.

"I welcome the sentences given and I hope they will serve as a warning to anyone else partaking or considering this lifestyle choice."