Cardiff: Two men admit smuggling cannabis labelled as Yankee Candles
Two men have admitted conspiring to import millions of pounds worth of cannabis labelled as "Yankee Candles" from America to south Wales. Four men were charged with importing more than 300kg (661lb) of cannabis using a postal service and previously denied the claim, but Mohammed Hussain, 28 and Abu Hussain, 28, both from Cardiff, changed their plea to guilty on Thursday.The two had already pleaded guilty to supplying the class B drug, but jurors at Newport Crown Court found both men guilty of conspiracy to import class B drugs. Both will be sentenced at a later date, while the two other defendants, Sean Montgomery, 24, and Steven Munroe, 44, still deny both charges against them.
At the beginning of the trial, Prosecutor Roger Griffiths told the court this was "drug dealing on an industrial scale".The court heard that 22 packages from California and New York ended up in a Royal Mail depot in Barry labelled as Yankee Candles.On Wednesday a police officer told the court he went to the Barry depot to view fourteen suspicious packages which were labelled as having "Yankee Candles inside".However, "they were too light to be candles", and the addresses, which were earmarked for bogus addresses across south Wales, did not match the postcodes.The officer said they contained "vacuum sealed" packages used to transport cannabis.The case continues.
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BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
PPFIBP1 gene: Parents' worldwide search for babies with son's rare condition
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BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
Dentists: Patients could be seen by any surgery under NHS plans
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The biggest change would see all patients over 18 placed onto a central waiting list, called the Dental Access Portal (DAP).They would then be allocated a surgery, which could be anywhere within the health board they need treatment, they would remain with that surgery until it is complete and beyond, if they needed close or when teeth are healthy, patients would be returned to the central portal and would be recalled for a check-up in 18 to 24 months wherever there is would be assessed under the plans but stay at the first surgery they are charges for patients would also change - with check-ups going up from £20 to £24.75 but a single crown going down from £260 to £239.15. Health Minister Jeremy Miles said the plans would benefit everyone."It will make NHS dentistry more attractive to dentists and that is good for patients," he said."Actually, what we want to make sure is that patients do look after their own oral health but when they do need to see a dentist they will be able to access one which is the critical thing." Jody Pegler, 46, from Pontllanfraith, Caerphilly county, who has been with his dentist in Newbridge for more than 30 years, said: "I have been coming here since I was a child."It's nice to see the same person on a regular basis."Mr Pegler, who has cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair, said his family members needing to visit different surgeries could be problematic."My wife, my child and myself could potentially be attending different practices," he said."It's difficult to get out and to go anywhere really and if we have to go to different practices it would be impossible."This dentist's in particular have made a big effort to make sure the practice is wheelchair accessible for me - that means a lot." Jody's dentist is Dr Harj Singhrao, owner of Newbridge Dental Care, who believes the potential breakdown in continued care will be "devastating"."If families can't be seen at the same practice, if people are punished then to join a waiting list because they have looked after their mouth, then where are they going to go? Because we know hospital waiting lists don't work," he said. The proposals are now part of a public consultation, open until 19 June, and in Cardiff people gave a mixed response to the plans when asked by BBC Weldon, 21, said: "I've been going to my dentist since I was probably six so I guess that would be a bit sad if I can't go to him."I would say too that things haven't been going very well for the NHS so maybe this could be a good start to kind of make things easier for them and for us."Paul McCarthy, 77, said he was unaware of the changes."I wouldn't be very happy about it either," he said."I've been coming here for over 30 years and I'm used to coming here so I wouldn't like that at all."Justin Rees, 52, from Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, thought the new portal idea could be positive. "It's good because one, there are no appointments at the moment."Two, it'll remind people that they need to have their teeth checked because you're busy all day and there's things that you let go," he said. 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Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Whitehall attendance slumps in spite of Labour's pledge to crack down on civil servants working from home
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