Key Points
- Liam Cogdell, aged 24, of Cormorant Way, Duffryn, Newport, appeared before Cardiff Crown Court for sentencing having pleaded guilty to drug-supply and resisting police charges.
- As reported by South Wales Argus, Cogdell even threatened to rip off an officer’s face during the arrest, and police found drugs with street value of about £30,000.
- He had to be restrained using a Taser and pepper spray due to his violent behavior during the incident.
- According to Gwent Police, its officers of the Community Action Team noticed a suspicious moped in Maesglas at 1pm on Friday 2 October 2026.
- The moped was located in the back garden of an address on Bideford Road and Cogdell was detained as he attempted to escape via the back of the address.
- The search of the property led to the discovery of cocaine, cannabis, cash, mobile phones, and drug paraphernalia.
- Cogdell admitted the possession of cocaine and cannabis with intent to supply and resisting or obstructing a police officer in the execution of his duties.
- Also, two Newport women, aged 18 and 36, were arrested on suspicion of drug supply and criminal property offenses; the police stated that both were released on conditional bail pending further inquiries.
- District Judge Sophie Toms committed Cogdell into custody after pleading guilty at Newport Magistrates’ Court on 11 October 2026.
- The matter was referred to Cardiff Crown Court for sentencing on 9 November 2026.
Newport (Wales Times) November 09, 2026 — A uk/local/newport/">Newport drug dealer threatened to bite a police officer’s face off before officers uncovered a cocaine haul with an estimated street value of £30,000, Cardiff Crown Court was told.
Liam Cogdell, 24, of Cormorant Way in Duffryn, Newport, was before the court for sentencing after admitting possession with intent to supply cocaine and cannabis, along with resisting a police officer in the execution of duty.
As reported by the South Wales Argus, the court heard that Cogdell was so violent during his arrest that officers used a Taser and pepper spray to restrain him. The newspaper reported that he threatened to bite an officer’s face off before the drugs were found.
The case followed a proactive patrol by Gwent Police’s Community Action Team in the Maesglas area of Newport. According to Gwent Police, officers spotted a suspicious moped at around 1pm on Friday, 2 October 2026.
How did police find the drugs?
Gwent Police said officers searched the area after seeing the moped and later found it in the garden of an address on Bideford Road. A man was seen at the front door of the property.
The force said the man was detained while attempting to flee through the back garden. Officers then searched the address and seized a quantity of cocaine, cannabis, cash, mobile phones and drug paraphernalia.
Gwent Police said the 24-year-old was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply cocaine and cannabis, and obstructing or resisting a constable in the execution of duty.
The force identified the arrested man as Liam Cogdell, of Cormorant Way, Newport. He was charged with the offences and remanded in custody to appear at Newport Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 5 October 2026.
What did Liam Cogdell admit?
At Newport Magistrates’ Court on 11 October 2026, Cogdell admitted possession with intent to supply cocaine and cannabis, according to the South Wales Argus. The offences were said to have taken place on 2 October 2026.
As reported by the South Wales Argus, Cogdell also pleaded guilty to resisting a police officer in the execution of his duty. The newspaper reported that District Judge Sophie Toms ordered a pre-sentence report and remanded him in custody.
The case was committed to Cardiff Crown Court for sentencing on 9 November 2026. The Newport Chronicle likewise reported that Cogdell had admitted possessing class A and class B controlled substances with intent to supply, as well as obstructing a police officer acting in the execution of their duties.
What was said about the violence?
The South Wales Argus reported that Cardiff Crown Court was told Cogdell had to be Tasered and pepper sprayed because of his violence. The report said he threatened to bite an officer’s face off before the £30,000 cocaine haul was found.
The report did not provide a detailed account of the sequence of events during the arrest beyond the reported use of force and the alleged threat. The court proceedings were reported as relating to Cogdell’s sentencing hearing.
Gwent Police’s original charge announcement did not include details of the alleged threat or the use of a Taser and pepper spray. The force said only that the man was detained while attempting to flee through the back garden of the address.
Were other people arrested?
Gwent Police said two women from Newport, aged 18 and 36, were also arrested in connection with the investigation. The force said they were arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply cocaine and cannabis, and acquiring, using or possessing criminal property.
According to Gwent Police, both women were released on conditional police bail while enquiries continued. The force did not name either woman in its public update.
The police statement did not say whether either woman had been charged. It also did not provide an update on the outcome of the investigation involving the two women following their release on bail.
What was seized by police?
Gwent Police said officers seized cocaine, cannabis, cash, mobile phones and drug paraphernalia from the Bideford Road address. The force did not publish the precise quantity of either drug in its initial announcement.
The South Wales Argus later reported that the cocaine haul had an estimated street value of £30,000. The newspaper’s report was published on 9 November 2026, the day of the Cardiff Crown Court sentencing hearing.
The police statement did not specify the estimated value of the cannabis, cash or other items seized. It also did not identify which items were recovered from the garden, the property or the detained man.
What happens next?
Cogdell appeared before Cardiff Crown Court on 9 November 2026 for sentencing. The South Wales Argus reported the court proceedings on the same day, including the allegation that he threatened an officer and the reported use of a Taser and pepper spray.
The court had previously ordered a pre-sentence report before the case was committed for sentencing. The Newport Chronicle reported that District Judge Sophie Toms remanded Cogdell in custody pending the crown court hearing.
The outcome of the sentencing hearing, including any prison sentence imposed, was not included in the material available from the reports reviewed for this article. Readers should treat the reported £30,000 figure as an estimate of street value rather than a confirmed police valuation.
Background of the development
Gwent Police said the investigation began after Community Action Team officers carried out proactive patrols in Maesglas, Newport, on 2 October 2026. The force said the officers saw a suspicious moped, searched the area and located it at an address on Bideford Road.
The force said the man at the property was detained after trying to leave through the back garden. Officers then searched the address and recovered cocaine, cannabis, cash, mobile phones and drug paraphernalia.
Cogdell was charged and remanded to appear at Newport Magistrates’ Court on 5 October 2026. Five days later, he admitted the drug-supply allegations and the charge of resisting a police officer.
The case was then sent to Cardiff Crown Court, where sentencing was scheduled for 9 November 2026. The South Wales Argus reported the violent conduct alleged during the arrest and the estimated value of the cocaine found during the police search.
Prediction: How this may affect Newport residents
For residents of Maesglas, Duffryn and wider Newport, the case is likely to reinforce concerns about drug activity in residential areas and the police response to it. Gwent Police’s account indicates that the investigation began with a neighbourhood patrol rather than a separate major operation.
Local residents may see increased police activity around Maesglas and Bideford Road as forces continue community-focused patrols. The seizure of cocaine, cannabis, cash, phones and paraphernalia may also be viewed by residents as evidence that officers are acting on suspicious activity reported or observed in the area.
For people affected by drug-related crime, the case may highlight the importance of reporting suspicious mopeds, unfamiliar visitors or drug activity to Gwent Police. The force’s account shows that a patrol-led response led to an arrest, a property search and the recovery of suspected drugs and related items.
For young people and families in Newport, the reported violence during the arrest may also raise concerns about officer safety and the risks associated with drug supply. The case remains a reminder that drug-supply allegations can lead to crown court proceedings, custody and potential imprisonment, while police investigations can also affect other people connected to an address or investigation.
