A Cardiff man who led an organised criminal gang that smuggled millions of pounds worth of cannabis from the United States into south Wales has been jailed, the court heard.
Abubakr Khawar, 28, of the Riverside area of Cardiff, was sentenced to eight years in prison at Cardiff Crown Court after prosecutors said the 11‑strong group imported and distributed cannabis “on an industrial scale.” Border Force officers intercepted 327kg (721lb) of the drug with an estimated street value of about £11 million, but the court was told at least 58 consignments reached recipients in the UK.
Prosecutor Roger Lewis described the operation as large and well organised. Khawar was shown in video footage handling 0.45kg (1lb) packs of high‑grade cannabis, described in court as "cali packs," which were then split into smaller 3.5g quantities for street sale. Evidence presented at trial said the drugs were dispatched from seven US states, including California, New Jersey, Colorado and Ohio, and that some packages were marked to resemble products such as Yankee Candles.
The court heard the gang received instructions from an individual known only as "Adam Z" in the US, who arranged shipments to multiple UK addresses. Khawar’s operation was said to be highly profitable, with earnings of between £3,000 and £10,000 per day at its peak.
Mohammed Nurul Hussain, 29, of Ninian Park Road, Riverside, Cardiff, was jailed for six years after the judge found he played a major role ensuring the distribution infrastructure operated effectively. The court was told Hussain was driven in part by the need to clear debts; police found £7,000 in cash at his home when he was arrested.
Other members and associates were sentenced to terms ranging from 22 months to three years and six months. Solomon Bertram, 36, of Llanishen, was jailed for 22 months after detectives intercepted about 8kg of cannabis destined for his address. Keiran Jones, 28, of Whitchurch, received 26 months; the court heard around £277,000 worth of cannabis addressed to him had been stopped by police. Keiran had been recruited by his sister, Sophie Jones, 32, who has pleaded guilty and will be sentenced next month.
Steven Munroe, 45, of Riverside, was jailed for 32 months after five packages were sent to his home, only one of which was delivered. Kyle Solowyk, 29, of Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, received a 34‑month term after about 2kg of cannabis addressed to properties he used was intercepted; the court learned Solowyk refused to provide his phone PIN on arrest and had a previous robbery conviction.
Sean Montgomery, 24, of Rumney, was sentenced to three years and six months after being described as trusted by the ringleader and photographed in his car with cannabis worth around £20,000 on his lap. Judge Eugene Egan said the photograph showed Montgomery was "showing off" about his role in the distribution chain. Andrew Pethers, 36, of St Mellons, was jailed for three years; the court was told a 3.2kg shipment intended for him had been intercepted. Daniel Marshall, 40, of Merthyr Tydfil, received 32 months; the court was told he had a gambling addiction.
Abdu Husain, 28, of Leckwith, was sentenced to six years after the judge described him as "trusted and instrumental in the supply chain" and as being aware of law enforcement tactics. Sophie Jones, who recruited both Bertram and her brother, has pleaded guilty to offences and will be sentenced at a later date.
Judge Egan rejected arguments that those who received small parcels through the post were peripheral, saying: "It is too simplistic to say 'all I did was receive a small amount of cannabis through the post'. This was a well‑run, well‑organised and extremely profitable business." He added his sentences reflected both the scale of the importation and the roles individuals played in the network.
Investigators told the court that while Border Force and South Wales Police intercepted a substantial volume of shipments, the scale of the operation meant a significant quantity still entered the UK. The gang used multiple UK addresses and the postal system to conceal consignments, and law enforcement officers employed targeted surveillance and checks at sorting facilities to identify and halt packages.
The case underscores the international dimension of some drug supply networks, with co‑ordination and shipments traced back to multiple states in the US. Prosecutors said the smuggling operation exploited legitimate courier and postal services by disguising high‑grade cannabis as commonplace retail items.
The full list of defendants named at Cardiff Crown Court included Abubakr Khawar, Daniel Marshall, Andrew Pethers, Sophie Jones, Kyle Solowyk, Keiran Jones, Solomon Bertram, Mohammed Nurul Hussain, Abdu Huriara Husain, Sean Montgomery and Steven Munroe. Sentencing remarks and convictions followed guilty pleas by several defendants and verdicts reached after trial for others.
South Wales Police worked alongside Border Force officers during the investigation. Prosecutors said the multi‑agency response and targeted intervention at postal hubs were critical to disrupting the network and preventing further consignments arriving in the UK.
The sentences imposed follow ongoing efforts by UK authorities to counter organised supply chains that exploit international mail and parcel services for the importation of illicit drugs. Court documents and sentencing remarks emphasised the commercial scale of the operation and the organised nature of the offenders' roles within the network.