Nathan Luke Martel collected the RIB from St Catherine after travelling to the Island on board a Condor ferry.
The 34-year-old then went to the French port of Dielette before returning to St Sampson’s Harbour in Guernsey – where Border Agency officials were waiting for him.
Guernsey’s Royal Court heard that Martel was arrested seconds after being seen getting off the boat with a blue holdall over his shoulder.
Inside the bag were ten packages of cannabis resin, with a total street value of between £194,140 and £291,210.
Martel largely made no comment in interview, apart from saying that cannabis should be legalised and taxed. He later admitted attempting to import a class B drug.
Advocate David Thompson, defending, said his client had worked as a fisherman since leaving school at 15, but lost his boat and fishing licence in 2015 after being convicted of money laundering.
He went on to become a fishmonger, but lost his job after suffering a shoulder injury.
The court heard that Martel committed the crime to help ease his financial problems, and had used his marine skills to traverse the challenging Percée Passage between Herm and Jethou.
Advocate Thompson said it was an ‘unsophisticated’ crime and added: ‘His role was that of a delivery man. There was no concealment. It was really quite blatant.’
Judge Russell Finch said: ‘This was an organised importation of a very large quantity of drugs. You knew the risks and you went ahead for personal gain.’
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