Macauley Hughes (Image: British Transport Police)
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A drug dealer who tried to pass off his stash of illicit tablets as “presents” has been locked up for two-and-a-half years.
Macauley Hughes, 29, of Wellingtonia Close, Merthyr Tydfil, was sentenced to two years and six months in prison and fined £228 at Cardiff Crown Court on Thursday 18 June.
He had pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to supply Class C drugs following a British Transport Police investigation, and a further count of possession with intent to supply Class B drugs arising from a South Wales Police inquiry.
The stop search
On Wednesday 3 January 2024, plain clothes BTP officers at Cardiff Central station spotted Hughes entering with his bicycle. His unsteady behaviour and a strong smell of cannabis gave them grounds to detain him.
Hughes immediately became abusive and had to be placed in handcuffs before officers could carry out the search. It uncovered more than 2,000 Bromazolam tablets along with cannabis.
He was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply a controlled substance. He continued directing abusive language at officers, referring to the tablets as “presents”.
Further searches
A second search carried out while Hughes was in custody found a plastic tub containing blue pills concealed in his underpants.
BTP officers also searched his home address, where four bottles of illegal THC vape juice were seized from his fridge.
BTP Detective Constable Liam Perry said: “Drugs are a blight on society, yet for Hughes this was business as usual. He used the railway to travel from town to town selling drugs.
“The fact that he was outraged that officers challenged him demonstrates the normalcy with which he regarded his criminal enterprise. I hope he takes his time behind bars to rethink his illegal activities.
“If you’re planning to use the railway to transport and supply drugs, we will catch up with you, and you will be put before the courts.
“Passengers who spot drug dealing on the railway are urged to report it to us, either by texting 61016 of calling 0800 40 50 40.”
South Wales Police Sergeant Shaun Thomas said: “These illegal drugs have devastating consequences on the people further down the chain who end up using them, not to mention their family, friends and wider communities.”
“We will continue to investigate any information you have which could relate to the sale or use of these drugs.”
