Marcin Zielonka (36), who is originally from Poland, was found with between £3,000 and £4,500 worth of the class B drug shortly after he drove off Condor Liberation from Poole in September.
Customs officers, the Magistrate’s Court heard, stopped Zielonka’s car and, after extensive examination, found a package containing a white powder.
After he was arrested, officers found a small ‘deal bag’ containing more white power on Zielonka. In total the defendant was found with about 77g of amphetamine, which, it was heard, had a street value of up to £4,500.
When the drugs were found Zielonka told officers: ‘It’s not coke [cocaine], it’s amphetamine. I have a problem.’
Assistant Magistrate Peter Harris said: ‘I accept that this importation was intended for personal use but nevertheless it added to the stock of illegal drugs in the Island.’
Zielonka, who admitted one count of importation and one count of possession of a controlled drug, was jailed for five months, although he has already spent about ten weeks on remand and so will be due for release shortly.
Mr Harris said he would make no recommendation for deportation but added: ‘That does not mean to say that Mr Zielonka is an asset to Jersey. In fact, quite the opposite.’
Advocate Michael Haines, defending, told the court that his client had no previous convictions, had a good work ethic and was a family man with two children.
Mr Harris added: ‘We have no problem with people coming to Jersey to work. It is, however, illegal to bring certain drugs into the Island, including amphetamine. The court’s policy is to impose custodial sentences in that situation.’
