AN Islander who was caught with almost £15,500 in laundered Sarnian notes earned from drug deals has been jailed for two years as part of a crackdown by Jersey and Guernsey authorities targeting “drug trafficking syndicates” operating in the islands.
The Royal Court heard that 43-year-old Timothy James Ayres had not sold the drugs himself, but knew they were earnings from drug sales in Guernsey.
Jersey Customs and Immigration Service, the States police and the Guernsey Border Agency joined forces for the “perfect” operation, which saw Ayres and another man, Darren El Mettouri (41), arrested on the same day, 19 May last year.
The court heard that Ayres received the cash, all in Guernsey banknotes, from his associate El Mettouri, who had travelled to Jersey on a private boat.
El Mettouri met Ayres in a town pub, where he handed over the cash in a blue rucksack.
Ayres in return gave him a rucksack containing £600 in cash and some cocaine.
But the same day, Guernsey Border Agency officers had carried out a search of El Mettouri’s house in Guernsey and discovered 830 grams of herbal cannabis.
He was arrested on the Albert Pier before he had a chance to board the vessel again, while Ayres was arrested in the pub, with the latter charged with receiving criminal property, possessing cocaine with the intent to supply it and offering to supply a small amount of testosterone, a class C drug.
El Mettouri was jailed on 12 April for four years and four months for the supply of cannabis and failing to declare cash at export.
Crown Advocate Luke Sette, prosecuting, recommended a three-year prison sentence for Ayres.
Advocate Rui Tremoceiro, defending, argued for a community service order or a shorter jail sentence than that requested by the prosecution.
He pointed out that Ayres had no previous convictions and said: “This wasn’t a particularly sophisticated operation.”
But Deputy Bailiff Robert MacRae said: “This was a serious offence and the custodial threshold is undoubtedly met.”
Following the sentencing. JCIS senior manager Luke Goddard said: “This operation is a perfect example of the close working relationship that exists between JCIS, GBA and States of Jersey Police, and the ability to undertake covert activity against drug trafficking syndicates operating in the islands.
“It also shows that JCIS will target the proceeds of drug trafficking as well as the movement of the drugs themselves.”
Investigations are ongoing by JCIS in relation to any criminal assets held by Ayres.
The Jurats sitting were Robert Christensen and Mike Berry.
