Newport OCG jailed for over 52 years in crackdown against drugs

Operation Silver was the largest enforcement activity in our recent history; seven people were arrested, and over £135,000 worth of class A drugs seized.

Operation Silver, a longstanding investigation by our organised crime team has come to an end, with six people now serving sentences totalling 52 years and nine months.

The operation centered around the Box Hotel in Newport with the manager, Ihtesham Ali Hassan, being a principal member.

While Hassan acted as a legitimate businessman, his proximity to Nicholas Yhnell, the head of the organised crime gang (OCG), resulted in the supply of cocaine, heroin and MDMA. The drugs were stored in both the Box Hotel and its sister hotel, the Box Guest House.

From these hotels, the employed drug couriers would travel throughout the UK, delivering and collecting large amounts of drugs and cash.

This operation led to the largest enforcement in our recent history, with five warrants executed last September (2023) at buildings in Newport and Cardiff.

These warrants involved 80 firearm officers and around 100 supporting officers and staff.

Throughout the investigation, five cars, including a Range Rover were seized, along with multiple mobile phones and the following drugs:

• MDMA tablets with an estimated street value of over £6,000
• MDMA powder with an estimated street value of up to £49,000
• cocaine with an estimated street value of up to £74,000
• heroin with an estimated street value of up to £9,000.

Over 1.1 million lignocaine tablets and paracetamol tablets were also seized.

In addition to Hassan and Yhnell, eight other people were sentenced; Yhnell’s wife, Kelly Balchin was found to be involved by phone work.

David Watkins, Richard Connors and Kayla Grubb were identified as ‘professional’ couriers for the OCG, completing journeys around the UK supplying and collecting huge amounts of drugs and cash. Significantly, Connors was arrested in May 2023 after being stopped in a car with 965,000 paracetamol tablets which are used as an agent to make heroin.

Jade Strutt was the girlfriend of Connors and enquiries showed her to be actively involved in arranging the couriers and storing cash.

Detective Inspector Ian Bartholomew from our organised crime team said:

“This has been an exhaustive investigation which has resulted in 52 years of prison sentences. Through conducting hours of surveillance, we were able to build a robust case to ensure those involved were brought to justice.

“Drugs use and supply is a major source of revenue for organised crime groups, and it brings a culture of violence and addiction to our communities. These gangs do not care about the harm and fear they inflict.

“I would like to thank our organised crime team for their professionalism and commitment to see these individuals sentenced, I would also like to thank the Crown Prosecution Unit and prosecution team for their support and guidance.

“This is one of many recent investigations demonstrating our commitment to dismantling organised crime gangs and eliminating class A drugs from Gwent. The public plays a crucial role in assisting us by providing valuable information about drug-related activities. Together, we can combat serious and organised crime."

Earlier this year, three men and two women pled guilty to drug offences, they have today been sentenced to:

• Nicholas Yhnell, 38, of Newport, sentenced to 15 years and nine months
• David Watkins, 38, of Newport, sentenced to six years
• Richard Connors, 40, of Newport, sentenced to six years
• Jade Strutt, 36, of Newport, sentenced to nine years
• Kayla Grubb, 32, of Newport, sentenced to six years.

Kelly Balchin, 39, of Newport, was found guilty of drug offences at trial. She was today sentenced to ten years imprisonment.

Hassan will be sentenced at a later date.