Newport drug dealers repay £40k despite £122k profit

Three drug dealers found with more than £80,000 worth of cannabis and cocaine in their Newport flat have been ordered to pay back just a fraction of their criminal profits.

Ahmet Cenaj, 24, was stopped by police whilst driving a Mercedes in Newport on 14th October last year. Officers discovered 950g of cannabis in a black bin bag in the boot, along with £445 in cash and two mobile phones.

Cenaj refused to provide PIN codes for the phones, claiming he didn’t know about the drugs. However, when police accessed the devices, they found multiple messages discussing the purchase and sale of up to 7kg of cannabis in kilo quantities, as well as videos of Cenaj in possession of cannabis and packaging the drug.

On 25th January, police attended Cenaj’s home in Mill Street and observed Ergys Nika, 22, entering the property empty-handed before leaving with a large bag. Officers stopped him and found the bag contained a significant amount of cannabis.

Police then searched the flat where Jetmir Nika, 19, was present and found in possession of a disposable vape containing seven grip seal bags of cocaine. Three mobile phones were seized containing messages relating to drug supply.

The search uncovered 29kg of cannabis worth £79,160, 197 grip seal bags of cocaine weighing 58.5g worth £10,740, and £37,500 in cash.

Cenaj, of Mill Street, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply class B drugs and being concerned in the supply of class B drugs. He was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment.

Ergys Nika and Jetmir Nika, both of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of cocaine and cannabis, and possession of criminal property. Both were sentenced to 45 months imprisonment.

At a Proceeds of Crime Act hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Friday, 19th December, the court heard Jetmir Nika benefited £122,101 from his offending but only had assets worth £90. Ergys Nika benefited £122,009 but has assets worth £38,000. Cenaj benefited £14,774 and has assets worth £2,930.

Recorder Christopher Felstead ordered the defendants to pay the available sums within three months.