Ben Evans will be sentenced next month after a large stash of coke was found in his car (Picture: Google)

A man who put on a high-viz vest to try and trick police into thinking he was a key worker is facing jail after being found with nearly £60,000-worth of cocaine in his car.

Ben Evans, 26, tried to pass himself off as an essential worker during the lockdown when he was stopped in the early hours of the morning. Police did not believe him and when they searched his blue Ford Focus they found a parcel containing a stash of cocaine with a street value of £57,000.

A spokeswoman for Dyfed Powys Police said Evans was pulled over on the A40 near Brecon, Powys for a routine lockdown stop.



She said: ‘Evans, the driver of the vehicle, was wearing high visibility work clothing and said he was on the way home after working all night as a key worker. Acting on previous intelligence, Evans was arrested for drug offences.


‘Police searched the vehicle and found a large package wrapped in brown tape with which was later confirmed to be cocaine, to the estimated value of around £57,000.

‘He was charged with the offence and remanded to appear in court.’

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Evans, of Ystradgynlais, near Swansea, admitted possessing class A drugs with intent to supply at Swansea Crown Court.

He was remanded in custody to be sentenced next month.

Speaking after the hearing DI Steve Lloyd said: ‘Trying to pass himself off as a key worker did not succeed. Possessing drugs with the intent to supply does not qualify as essential work.

‘I hope this will serve as a warning to others who wish to bring drugs into the Powys area that it will not be tolerated.

‘We want to let potential criminals know that it is business as usual and we will continue to pursue those who target some of the most vulnerable people in our communities.’

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