3 days ago
Gang member who made £1.8m from crime to pay back just £10
A member of an organised crime gang (OCG) which stored £135,000 worth of Class A drugs at a hotel has been ordered to pay back just £10 despite benefiting by almost £2m. Drugs including heroin, cocaine, and MDMA were stored at two hotels.
Ihtesham Ali Hassan, the manager of the Box Hotel in Newport, became involved in a drugs conspiracy headed by Nicholas Yhnell, 38. The OCG was involved in the supply of heroin, cocaine, and MDMA which was stored at the Box Hotel and its sister hotel the Box Guest House.
Jade Strutt, 36, was also involved in the enterprise by directing drug couriers and storing cash. For the latest court reports sign up to our crime newsletter.
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The couriers based at the hotel would travel throughout the UK, delivering and collecting huge quantities of drugs and cash.
An operation was launched by Gwent Police which saw five warrants executed in September last year at buildings in Newport and Cardiff involving 80 firearms officers and 100 supporting officers and staff.
Among the items seized were five cars including a Range Rover and multiple phones.
Also seized was heroin with a street value of up to £9,000, cocaine with a street value of up to £74,000, MDMA powder with a street value up to £49,000, and MDMA tablets with a street value up to £6,000. More than 1.1m lignocaine tablets and paracetamol tablets were also seized.
Further members of the OCG were arrested including Yhnell's wife Kelly Balchin, 39, David Watkins, 38, Richard Connors, 40, and Kayla Grubb, 32. The latter three were employed as "professional" couriers.
Connors, partner of Strutt, was arrested in May last year in his car and was found in possession of 965,000 paracetamol tablets to be used as an agent to make heroin.
Yhnell, of Newport was sentenced to 15 years and nine months imprisonment.
Watkins, of Newport, was sentenced to six years imprisonment.
Strutt, of Newport, was sentenced to nine years imprisonment.
Connors, of Newport, was sentenced to six years imprisonment.
Grubb, of Newport, was sentenced to six years imprisonment.
Balchin, of Newport, was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment.
At a Proceeds of Crime (POCA) hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Thursday Strutt was said to have benefited to the tune of £1,891,409 for her part in the enterprise but it was heard she has no available assets.
Judge Simon Mills ordered the defendant to pay a nominal sum of £10.
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