A sophisticated international drug supply operation bringing wholesale quantities of cannabis and cocaine into South Wales has been dismantled following a major police investigation, with two Cardiff men now beginning lengthy prison sentences.
Ahmed Abbas Al-Farraji, 25, of Adamsdown, and Jamal Malik, 24, of Butetown, were sentenced today at Swansea Crown Court for their roles in an organised crime network importing drugs from the United States into the United Kingdom.
The convictions follow Operation Starburst, a complex investigation led by the Tarian Regional Organised Crime Unit (ROCU), which uncovered a well-established supply line using international parcel deliveries to flood Cardiff and surrounding areas with illegal drugs.
Investigators discovered that parcels containing drugs were being shipped from the US to multiple addresses across Cardiff. To avoid detection, the packages were labelled with false names and misleading descriptions. Working closely with Border Force, officers were able to intercept a number of parcels at international distribution hubs, providing crucial evidence.
Police found that Al-Farraji, operating under the alias “Josh”, was in control of the supply line. The operation distributed both Class A drugs, including cocaine, and Class B drugs, including cannabis, across the city and beyond.
Al-Farraji was sentenced to three years and four months in prison for conspiracy to supply cocaine, alongside a concurrent nine-month sentence for conspiracy to supply cannabis.
Malik was shown to have played a key logistical role within the network. He arranged imports, provided delivery addresses for drug shipments, and assisted with the onward supply of drugs to customers.
He was sentenced to three years in prison for conspiracy to supply cocaine, and will serve a concurrent nine-month sentence for conspiracy to import and supply cannabis.
A third man connected to the operation, Abdu Huriara Husain, 29, of Leckwith, Cardiff, was responsible for organising the international shipments from the United States. Operating under the alias “Skinny”, Husain was sentenced to six years in prison in September 2025 as part of a wider organised crime group case.
Detective Constable Rhys Richards, of Tarian ROCU, said the investigation highlighted the scale and impact of organised drug crime in South Wales.
“This investigation uncovered a highly organised operation importing drugs into the UK and supplying both Class B and Class A substances onto the streets of southern Wales,” he said.
“Offences of this nature are driven by profit and cause real harm to our communities. By working closely with partners, including Border Force, we were able to identify those responsible, disrupt a significant supply chain, and bring the offenders before the courts.”
Police say the outcome demonstrates the effectiveness of partnership working in tackling serious organised crime and sends a clear message to those involved in drug supply that they will be pursued and prosecuted.
