A court has heard how a Cardigan man secreted a deposit of heroin from his rectum whilst waiting inside a police van.
Daniel Meyler claims the heroin was intended for his own personal use.
However the Crown alleges that his intention was to supply it to others.
Today Meyler, 42, appeared before Swansea Crown Court on the first day of his trial into the charge of possessing the controlled Class A drug with intent to supply it to others.
The court heard that on Saturday, October 16, 2021, police officers had been monitoring his silver Renault Laguna via their ANPR (automatic number plate recognition) system. They had observed the vehicle leave Cardigan, travel to Newport, Gwent, and then return westbound along the M4 on a number of occasions.
On October 16 they stopped the vehicle as it entered the Dyfed-Powys Police force area.
“The defendant was driving and a second man was sitting in the passenger seat,” said Georgia Jones, KC, for the Crown.
“The officers stopped the vehicle as they believed the people inside it had drugs ‘plugged’, or concealed, about their persons. They also believed the defendant had drugs inside his rectum.”
Meyler, who has lived in both Williams Row and Felinban in Cardigan, was taken to Glangwili Hospital for medical attention, however he declined treatment. He was subsequently taken to Ammanford Police station.
“The station was particularly busy that day, so the defendant had to wait outside in the van,” continued Ms Jones.
“While he was there, he secreted an item on the floor of the van.”
The jury was shown a photograph of the deposit.
Meyler was then taken back to Glangwili Hospital where further x-rays were carried out to determine whether there were additional packages concealed in his body, however these proved negative. He was then conveyed to Ammanford Police station and kept under observation.
“The deposit was examined,” continued Georgia Jones, KC, “and five small packages were found inside it which were the heroin. The Crown says that he was in possession of those items with intent to supply to others.
Ms Jones added that his mobile phone was also examined and further evidence was found which suggested that he was supplying drugs to others.
The Crown called on DC Paul Kelly of Haverfordwest CID to give further evidence for the Crown.
He confirmed that the amount of heroin found concealed inside Meyler totalled 11.7 grams. This was found in five separate packages, which weighed between 1.7g to 3.37g respectively.
DC Kelly went on to say that the drugs had a purity value of 26 per cent which falls into the lower quality, which can extend to up to 40 per cent. The wholesale value of the drugs found inside him would have amounted to between approximately £400 to £750.
The Crown maintains that messages examined on Meyler’s mobile phone indicated his involvement in drug dealing, and DC Kelly was asked to comment on certain phrases read out to the court. These included ‘I’ve got one spare today, if needed’.
“He’s saying he’s got a deal, or some drugs, to offer,” said DC Kelly.
He then went on to explain another phrase ‘ It’s pay day lol. I’ve got it patterned up’.
“This suggests that he’s got a drop set up, or a deal set up,” said DC Kelly.
The officer went on to say that purchasing heroin in Newport, Gwent, would be marginally cheaper than buying it in a small town, such as Cardigan.
The trial continues.
