NO forensic or scientific evidence was found to link a Newport taxi driver to a 3.8 kg bag of drugs found in his car, Wales' biggest heroin trial heard today.

Wasim Ali, aged 30, of Harrow Road, Newport, was caught by police with a JD sports carrier bag containing 3.8 kg of heroin in his taxi in January last year.

Ali is one of six people who are facing charges of conspiracy to supply the class A drug heroin.

The other defendants on trial at Cardiff Crown Court are Shazia Ahmed, aged 38, of Lennard Street, Newport, Umar Arif, aged 29, of Laureate Close, Cardiff, Umar Butt, aged 25, of Crwys Road, Cardiff, Khalid Yassen, aged 30, of Penlline Street, Cardiff and Zawed Malik, aged40, of Park Road, Tameside in Greater Manchester. All deny the charge.

More than £4 million of heroin, around 40 kilograms, was seized during the police operation. The conspiracy is said to have operated from October 2013 to January 2014.

But today the court heard from Detective Constable Jarrod Baker of Gwent Police who confirmed no forensic or scientific evidence linking to Ali was found on the bag of drugs.

Last week Ali claimed he had been asked to take a JD sports carrier bag from Cardiff to Newport but he "did not think it was anything illegal".

He was told to take the bag, which he believed contained clothes, to Imtiaz Ali who is believed to be one of drug gang organisers and who pleaded guilty.

Today Mr Baker confirmed that a carrier bag of drugs from Ali's taxi had been seized and analysed but there was no evidence linking them to Ali.

Mr Baker also confirmed to the court that the investigation "did not throw up any suspicious information" from the defendant's bank accounts. He said no unexplained amounts of cash were deposited.

The court also heard questions to Mr Baker from the defence barrister of shop owner Shazia Ahmed.

Ahmed was arrested in January 2014 after police saw her take a carrier bag and put it in the boot of her Mercedes in a Lidl car park in Newport. Police stopped her car and found thousands of pounds in cash.

A total of four carrier bags containing cash were found, including £59,995 discovered in a blue and green bag, a JD sports bag with £47,530 in and a Monsoon carrier bag with £15,940.

Today Mr Baker gave evidence about the police investigation and search of Ahmed's home on January 27.

The court heard how lots of papers, receipts and bank statements were found as well as diaries, a mobile phone and a computer.

But Mr Baker confirmed there were no patterns or records relating to drug dealing found in the search.

Proceeding.