A teenager who began dealing cocaine and heroin on the streets of Newport has been sent to a young offender institution for 18 months.
Muhammed Abdullah was just 17 when he started supplying class A drugs in the city, driven by a desire to be the “man of the house” and a £100-a-day cannabis habit, Newport Crown Court heard.
The now 18-year-old, of Alexandra Road, Newport, pleaded guilty to two counts of being concerned in the supply of class A drugs between September 19, 2025 and November 2025.
Motivated by money and status
The court heard Abdullah had dropped out of college and was drawn into the drugs trade after witnessing others profiting from crime. One of those individuals offered him a role, and he took it.
Recorder Aidan Eardley KC told the defendant: “You had dropped out of college and having seen the active success of people profiting through crime, one of them offered you a role.
“You said you wanted to be the man of the house.”
He added: “You had a significant role and at least an understanding of the scale of the operation.”
Caught twice in quick succession
Abdullah was first spotted by officers on Friday, September 12 last year, selling drugs to a user on Commercial Street in Pill while riding a bicycle. He was arrested shortly afterwards and found to be carrying two wraps of cocaine with a street value of £30.
Despite being released on bail, Abdullah resumed dealing – this time in Newport city centre. When police gave chase, he discarded a bag containing 37 wraps of heroin with a potential street value of between £740 and £1,100.
Phone evidence
During his arrest, Abdullah insisted to officers that he was innocent, declaring he was “no-one’s b*tch” and worked for nobody. He showed police his iPhone in an attempt to prove his claims – but as he did so, drug-related messages were being received on the device in real time.
Officers subsequently discovered text bombs advertising drugs on the phone, along with a video showing heroin being weighed “ready for onward supply”.
Sentencing
Kirsten Murphy, representing Abdullah, told the court her client had no previous convictions and had been assessed as presenting a low risk of reoffending.
However, the judge noted several aggravating factors. Recorder Eardley KC said: “This case is aggravated by the fact that you were dealing two types of drugs and you continued to offend when you were on magistrates’ bail.
“You told the probation report author that you were spending a £100-a-day on cannabis.
“You were clearly embarking on a criminal career with some determination.”
Abdullah was sentenced to 18 months’ detention in a young offender institution. ⚖️
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News Article Title Newport teen drug dealer sentenced to 18 months in custody
