A Wirral taxi driver who ran a secret side business selling Donald Trump-shaped ecstasy tablets has been jailed after police uncovered more than £100,000 worth of drugs hidden inside an Aldi carrier bag.
According to Liverpool Echo, 45-year-old Paul Duggan, of Beckwith Street, Birkenhead, was using his Hackney cab to distribute cocaine and MDMA across Merseyside between March and August 2024. Officers linked his mobile phone to the movements of his licensed taxi, revealing frequent drug transactions involving both substances.
Cocaine and ecstasy found in Aldi bag
Police raided Duggan’s home on 6 August 2024, where they discovered a large stash of drugs in multiple rooms — including an Aldi shopping bag containing digital scales, nearly 30 wraps of cocaine, and dozens of white rock-like parcels. Four “Donald Trump-shaped” ecstasy tablets were also found in his taxi, alongside £620 in cash.
In total, officers seized 1.16 kg of cocaine valued at up to £89,850 and 1,323 MDMA tablets worth as much as £13,230.
Court heard driver was “barely surviving”
Liverpool Crown Court was told that Duggan had fallen into drug dealing after struggling financially and battling his own addiction. His defence said he was “barely surviving” and not living a luxury lifestyle, describing the experience as a wake-up call.
Judge Robert Trevor Jones sentenced Duggan to six years in prison, saying:
“People who involve themselves in the supply of controlled drugs can expect to go to prison — particularly when those drugs are class A.”
DM News Commentary
While the majority of taxi and private-hire drivers work hard to maintain trust and professionalism, cases like this damage the public’s perception of the trade. Licensing authorities across Merseyside may now face renewed pressure to tighten background and compliance checks on cab drivers — especially those working independently across council borders.
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