Pink Mustang Drugs Bust on M6: Trio Jailed for Ecstasy Haul
A routine police stop on the M6 turned into a major drugs bust after officers pulled over a suspicious pink Ford Mustang carrying thousands of ecstasy tablets worth up to half a million pounds.
Dangerous Driving Sparks Police Attention
At around 1am on Thursday 21 October 2021, officers spotted the Mustang weaving erratically between lanes, travelling at just 30-40mph near Junction 18, Holmes Chapel. The car narrowly avoided several collisions, prompting police to stop it.
Emily Phillips, 33, was behind the wheel. She was immediately arrested for dangerous driving.
Drugs and DNA Lead to Further Arrests
Thousands of class A ecstasy pills were found inside the vehicle in a concealed bag, valued between £250,000 and £500,000. Robert Dalton, 40, the passenger, was initially released but re-arrested after the discovery.
Forensic teams matched DNA on drug packets to Michael Smyth, 29, who was arrested at his Liverpool home. Officers also seized more ecstasy tablets and paraphernalia during a search at Smyth’s address.
Trio Sentenced at Chester Crown Court
- Emily Phillips, from Swanley, Kent, admitted involvement in supply of class A drugs and dangerous driving. She was jailed for 14 years and 4 months on 22 December 2022.
- Michael Smyth pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply and received 7-and-a-half years.
- Robert Dalton also admitted possession with intent to supply and was sentenced to 5 years and 10 months.
“With the strength of the evidence we were able to gather, they had little choice but to plead guilty,” said PC Mark Jones of Crewe Proactive CID. “This case shows the value of police stop checks. What started as a basic check led to a substantial drugs seizure. We hope these sentences send a clear message – if you come to Cheshire to commit crime, you will be caught and brought to justice.”
