Real-life ‘Breaking Bad’ Teacher Has $1.5 Million Cocaine Lab; Banned From Classrooms
Macphallen Kuwale from Cardiff, Wales, who was dubbed as the real-life Walter White from the hit television series "Breaking Bad", has been banned from entering classrooms. During a 2012 raid, investigators discovered that Kuwale, a secondary school teacher and a father of two, was operating a narcotics factory inside his home, The Telegraph reported.
According to authorities, his secret facility contained more than 100 grams of cocaine and £900,000, or roughly $1.5 million worth of equipment and ingredients to make the drug. Under the nickname "Mac", Kuwale arranged drug deals through text messages.
Last Thursday, The General Teaching Council Wales (GTCW) held a disciplinary hearing regarding Kuwale's case. With the help of the report from Wales authorities, the GTCW panel voted to ban him permanently from teaching, according to The Guardian.
Steve Powell, chairman of the panel said, "Mr. Kuwale presents a significant and ongoing risk to the standards of the professions. His involvement in the illegal drugs trade is evidence of deep-seated attitudinal problems. We cannot be satisfied that there is no risk of repetition. The proportionate sanction is indefinite prohibition order."
He added, "The wellbeing of pupils must be protected and the reputation of the profession maintained."
During the investigation, Kuwale denied the allegations and claimed that he was only keeping the illegal substances for someone. However, he admitted that he was going through a lot of stress due to financial problems which almost resulted in the repossession of his home during the time in question.
But Kuwale is not alone in his title as the real-life "Breaking Bad" character. In May of last year, a math teacher at the Match Charter Middle School in Boston was arrested for trafficking methamphetamine. Like his television-counterpart, 57-year-old Stephen Doran was previously diagnosed with cancer and has undergone months of chemotherapy, the Daily Mail reported.
Doran was arrested shortly after a package was sent to the school he was teaching in via the U.S. Postal Service. After receiving the package, he drove home but was pulled over by state troopers.
The troopers discovered that the package contained around half a kilo of meth. A raid in Doran's home uncovered 38 grams of the illegal substance and $10,000 in cash.