South Wales Police’s investigation began in November 2022 after arresting Abdul Mozid for an unrelated drugs offence.
A mobile phone in Mozid’s possession at the time of his arrest contained evidence to show he was the principal member of a large-scale conspiracy to supply controlled drugs including cocaine, MDMA, cannabis and ketamine.
Police say Mozid was directing the large-scale supply of Class A and B drugs not only into Swansea, but also areas including Pyle, Cardiff, Carmarthen and Bristol, with evidence showing a substantial supply network.
The crime gang used several encrypted chat platforms including Telegram, Signal, WhatsApp and Snapchat. These platforms allow the user to utilise “handles” or usernames instead of providing personal information. By using these sites, members of the gang were attempting to evade law enforcement by ensuring their anonymity. However, nine men were able to be attributed to usernames which had engaged in messaging regarding the gang’s drug supply.
Some of the men – Ruhel Chowdhury, Mohammed Hanif Miah, Moinul Islam and Mohammed Robbani – were identified as working alongside Mozid in the gang’s operation. Other men – Levi Edwards, Bryan Clark, Mohammed Rahman and Diamant Halili – were identified as “running” or delivering drugs for the gang.
Police say several bulk customers were also identified has having received substantial quantities of controlled drugs from the gang. These – Mohammed Jubair Uddin, Abul Hushain and Jamshed Khan – were arrested separately to the main nine defendants and have already been sentenced due to entering guilty pleas. All were proven to be large scale customers of the OCG who were in turn running their own drug supply operations.
A premises on Finsbury Terrace, Brynmill, Swansea was being used by the gang as a ‘safe house’ where police discovered “substantial quantities” of Class A and B drugs as well as cash were found during a warrant at the address.
In total, police seized Over £45,000 cash seized £44,000 in cash and £12,000 in cryptocurrency along with 6.2 kilograms of cocaine, 31.5 grams of crack cocaine, 228 grams of MDMA powder, 970 MDMA tablets, 2.3 kilograms of ketamine, 8 kilograms of cannabis and 2.4 kilograms of mixing agent.
All the defendants entered guilty pleas and were sentenced in April 2025.
Abdul Mozid was sentenced to 10 years, eight months’ imprisonment, Mohammed Hanif Miah to 10 years, six months’ imprisonment and Ruhel Chowdhury to nine years’ imprisonment.
Moinul Islam will serve seven years in prison, Mohammed Robbani four years, five months’ imprisonment and Diamant Halili, four years, nine months’ imprisonment.
Levi Edwards, Bryan Clarke and Mohammed Rahman all received sentences of three years, nine months’ imprisonment.
The three men shown to be bulk customers of the gang and running their own drug supply operation have already been sentenced, with Jamshed Khan getting three years’ imprisonment, Mohammed Jubair Uddin receiving four years’ imprisonment and Abul Hushain, six years, five months’ imprisonment along with a 62-month driving ban.
Detective Sergeant Ian Foster from South Wales Police said: “Operation Shelduck has seen a deeply complex investigation into a group of men who cared about nothing other than profiting from the supply of drugs into our communities.
“Like many others before them who have thought similarly, this has not paid off for them, and they are now embarking on significant terms in prison.
“I would like to acknowledge the work of the Scene of Crime Officers (SOCOs), the Joint Scientific Investigation Unit (JSIU), the COMU for all Comms applications, the analyst and the financial investigator.
“Also, the work of the Neighbourhood Policing Team, the Territorial Support Team, the Organised Crime Team and the Specials for the day of the warrants was of utmost importance to the investigation.
“I would also like to highlight the work of the officer in case, PC Owen Smith, who was instrumental in securing these sentences for all those involved in this OCG.”
