A DRUG trafficker was jailed after he was caught by plain-clothes police dealing cannabis near a school during the middle of the day.

Joe Hughes, 21, of Cedar Road, Trinant, near Newbridge, also had more than £5,000 in cash stashed away in a safe in his bedroom.

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Steven Donoghue, prosecuting, said the plain clothes officers saw the defendant carry out a drug deal in his home village.

South Wales Argus:

The safe police found in Joe Hughes' bedroom

Hughes got into the front passenger seat of a black Skoda where the exchange happened with the driver at around 2pm on Thursday, October 15.

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Mr Donoghue told Cardiff Crown Court: “He then exited the vehicle and went towards a shop. He stood outside and was on his mobile phone.

“The defendant was carrying a man bag and inside was £350 in cash, a Nokia mobile phone, a burner phone primarily used for drug dealing, 22 snap bags of cannabis, an iPhone and two bags of white powder which was later identified as cocaine.

South Wales Argus:

The defendant had more than £5,000 in cash at home

“He was arrested in the middle of the village around 100 metres from the local school where a large group of people had gathered.”

The incident happened during term time, the court heard.

Mr Donoghue said a search of the defendant’s home then took place.

Placed in a safe was £5,160 in cash, cannabis and two BB guns.

A butterfly knife was found hidden under the floorboards.

The prosecutor added: “When the defendant was interviewed by the police he told them he didn’t think of himself as a drug dealer but a ‘weed enthusiast’.”

Hughes pleaded guilty to supplying cocaine and cannabis and possession with intent to supply cannabis.

Lowri Wynn Morgan, mitigating, said her client was a qualified mechanic who had suffered with mental health difficulties.

The judge, Recorder Mark Cotter QC, told Hughes: “You were dealing class A and class B drugs over an extended period of time.

“This was a well organised and successful operation. The proximity of the school is an aggravating factor.”

The defendant was jailed for two years and four months.

Hughes is due to face a Proceeds of Crime Act hearing on March 15.