Four Cardiff men are on trial accused of smuggling over 300 kilograms of marijuana from the United States into the United Kingdom using fake addresses and packages labeled as “Yankee Candles.”
According to prosecutors, the operation involved dozens of suspicious parcels shipped from California and New York to a Royal Mail depot in Barry, Vale of Glamorgan. Investigators say the parcels contained vacuum-sealed cannabis and were addressed to locations that did not exist.
The case centers on defendants Mohammed Hussain, 28, Abu Hussain, 28, Sean Montgomery, 24, and Steven Munroe, 44, all of whom deny charges of conspiracy to import a class B drug. Mohammed and Abu Hussain have pleaded guilty to separate charges of supplying a controlled substance.
Jurors at Newport Crown Court heard testimony from Royal Mail employee Robert Sennett, who flagged the packages after Montgomery allegedly attempted to collect three parcels, claiming they were gifts from family. Due to the nonexistent address and the light weight of the boxes, the items were not released and police were contacted.
Detective Constable Sean Meyrick, the lead investigator, told the court that CCTV captured Montgomery at the depot and that he was likely directed by others to retrieve the shipments. When police inspected the boxes, they reportedly found “Yankee Candle” packaging that felt too light to contain candles. Inside were vacuum-sealed bags consistent with marijuana trafficking, according to testimony.
Police say messages recovered from Montgomery’s Snapchat included a video showing someone with tattoos consistent with his appearance holding what appeared to be a kilogram of cannabis. Additional messages referenced paying £5,000 to a postal worker to recover “60 bags L,” which officers interpreted as £60,000 worth of cannabis.
Mohammed Hussain was arrested at his Cardiff home, where authorities found cannabis, cash, and a phone, along with empty packaging tied to the case. The trial is ongoing.
