SHAME SHAME


NEWPORT CABBIE CAUGHT WITH 2KG OF COCAINE JAILED FOR SIX YEARS SIX MONTHS


A cabbie was caught with 2kg of high purity cocaine in his cab worth around £200,000 on the street. Mohammed Yamin, 53, from Newport was arrested after he was stopped by police on the A472 in the Blackwood area. The cocaine was in a plastic bag in the front passenger footwell and had a purity of between 86 - 88%. Police also found £9,000 cash inside the taxi and a further £8,500 when they


searched Yamin’s


home, prosecutor Daniel Jones told Swansea Crown Court. The defendant was found guilty of possession with intent to supply


cocaine. Yamin had claimed in his defence that he didn’t know what was inside the bag. He told jurors he had met a man on a deserted road who had put it in his car and told him to take it to Blackwood. Yamin was on his way to deliver it to an address on May 22 last year and was caught as part of a “covert operation” by Gwent Police. “The prosecution say the defend- ant had a significant role in the


enterprise as a trusted courier


within the chain,” Mr Jones said. Yamin Bashir representing Yamin told the court: “It was a single trip from point A to B. The defendant is a man of previous good character with no convictions.” Recorder Simon Hughes, told Yamin: “You are not a cocaine addict and therefore you were dealing for financial advantage. You were under no obligation, coercion, intimidation or groomed to become involved in drug trading.” Yamin was jailed for six years and six months and is to face a proceeds of crime hearing in August.


BELFAST CABBIE WHO GOT INVOLVED IN DRUGS TRADE DUE TO LOCKDOWN JAILED FOR 32 MONTHS


A west Belfast man who claimed he became involved in the drugs trade due to a lockdown-linked downturn in his income as a taxi driver has been jailed. Sean Adams was handed a 32- month sentence on 20 February, which was divided equally between prison and licence. As she passed sentence on the dad-of-four, Judge Sandra Craw- ford said his role was one of a “transporter and storeman” in a “wholesale operation.” Belfast Crown Court heard that on April 3, 2023 police searched a caravan in Carnlough which was owned by Adams and his partner. During the search, bags of cannabis and cocaine were located along with sets of scales. A total of 1.2 kilos of high-purity cocaine was seized, as was 13.4


PHTM MARCH 2024


kilos of cannabis and 1.47 kilos of benzocaine. The estimated street value of the cocaine amounted to between £95,000 and £140,000 whilst the cannabis was worth between £130,000 and £200,000. Adams home was also searched and £4,000 was seized with “several expensive watches.” During his interview, he didn’t divulge where he got the drugs from, refused to provide a PIN for his phone and answered ‘no comment’ when questioned about who he was working with and whether he was acting under duress. In a later interview with probation, Adams claimed he became involved as he was struggling financially due to the downturn in his income as a taxi driver caused by lockdown. He also told the probation officer


he became “caught up” in the financial benefits the criminality brought.


Adams subsequently pleaded guilty to five charges including possessing both cocaine and cannabis with intent to supply, and possessing criminal property in the form of £4,000 and luxury watches. As she imposed the sentence, Judge Crawford told Adams: “The substantial quantities and value of the drugs recovered demonstrates that a significant level of trust was reposed in you by those for whom you were working.” Adding that given the ‘serious nature’ of the offending the custody threshold was ‘clearly’ met, the judge handed Adams a 32-month sentence and granted a Crown application to destroy all the drugs seized.


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