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© Wales News ServiceMacphallen Kuwale: Teacher turned drug dealer
A teacher turned drug dealer was caught when police uncovered a cocaine laboratory in his home worth around £900,000, a disciplinary hearing has heard.

Macphallen Kuwale was running a 'sophisticated' wholesale operation at his home in Llanrumney, Cardiff, a police officer told a General Teaching Council for Wales (GTCW) hearing today.

The technology whizz had cutting agents worth hundreds of thousands of pounds, as well as a pressing machine to make the cocaine appear to be of a higher grade, police say.

Detectives' investigations also uncovered further damning evidence in scenes reminiscent of hit TV show Breaking Bad.

'Kuwale was heavily involved in the supply of cocaine,' said Detective Timothy Jones, of South Wales Police. 'He was involved in street level dealing as well as a sophisticated wholesale operation. 'It was totally unusual. It is not something that you come across every day.'

Kuwale was handed a three-and-a-half year jail term last year after being caught with around £8,000 worth of cocaine. He told police he had been severely stressed at the time, and two years earlier his home was nearly repossessed. Kuwale did not attend today's hearing but was given a lifetime ban from teaching in his absence.