SIXTEEN defendants will go on trial in the new year after appearing in court charged in connection with a Gwent Police investigation called Operation Finch into an alleged conspiracy to supply Class A drugs in Newport.

Apart from two, Daniel Richardson, 33, and Joshua Southall, 23, both of Parc Prison, Bridgend, all are listed as being from the city.

The defendants appeared before Judge Tom Crowther QC at Newport Crown Court.

Blaine Nunes, 26, of Jenkins Street, denied conspiracy to supply cocaine and conspiracy to supply heroin.

Jerome Nunes, 27, of Livingstone Place, Maindee, pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine and conspiracy to supply heroin.

Angela Collingbourne, 50, of Jenkins Street, denied conspiracy to supply cocaine and conspiracy to supply heroin.

Preston Killoran, 25, of Elgar Circle, Always, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine and not guilty to conspiracy to supply heroin.

Kieran Vodden, 23, of Hendre Farm Drive, Ringland, admitted conspiracy to supply cocaine and denied conspiracy to supply heroin.

Jonathan James, 29, of Fenner Brockway Close, pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine and conspiracy to supply heroin.

Thomas Allison, 25, of Hendre Farm Drive, Ringland, admitted conspiracy to supply cocaine and denied conspiracy to supply heroin.

Tia Donovan-Jones, 18, of Brookfield Close, Somerton, denied conspiracy to supply cocaine and conspiracy to supply heroin.

Rhys Jones, 23, of Saltmarsh Lane, Goldcliff, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine and producing cannabis and denied conspiracy to supply heroin.

Liam Slade, aged 28, of Aberthaw Circle, Alway, admitted conspiracy to supply cocaine and denied conspiracy to supply heroin.

Southall pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine but not guilty to conspiracy to supply heroin.

Matthew Croft, 28, of Vivian Road, admitted conspiracy to supply cocaine but not guilty to conspiracy to supply heroin.

Khaleem Hussain, 24, of Fleetwood Close, Somerton, denied conspiracy to supply cocaine and conspiracy to supply heroin.

Thomas Jones, 22, of Saltmarsh Lane, Goldcliff, admitted conspiracy to supply cocaine and not guilty to conspiracy to supply heroin.

Ashleigh Lloyd, 23, of Corporation Road, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine and not guilty to conspiracy to supply heroin.

Richardson admitted conspiracy to supply cocaine and denied conspiracy to supply heroin.

The prosecutor in the case is Andrew Jones.

Judge Crowther set a trial date of January 21 for Blaine Nunes, Jerome Nunes, Collingbourne, Killoran, Allison, Donovan-Jones and Richardson.

That trial is expected to last between six and eight weeks.

The trial dates for the other defendants have not been set.

All defendants were remanded in custody.