The trio – Garrett McCarthy (41), Scott William Chadwick (44) and Amen Ben-Sghaier (30) – all appeared in the Royal Court yesterday after the latter two defendants were stopped by Customs officers after driving off a ferry that had arrived from Poole on 11 March.
Chadwick, the driver of the rented vehicle, told officers that he had come to Jersey to celebrate his birthday and that they intended to meet McCarthy, who had told them there was good nightlife in the Island. He added that he was not sure how long he and his passenger, Ben-Sghaier, would be staying for.
Soon after, a drug swab was conducted on the vehicle and an ion-testing machine provided a positive indication for the presence of cocaine.
The court heard that the car was searched and four wraps containing a total of 107.76g of cocaine were found behind a plastic ‘scuff plate’ in the boot. Both men were then arrested. Chadwick told officers that Ben-Sghaier had booked the ferry and given him £300 for the hire
car.
Following analysis of the drugs, it was found that the cocaine had a purity of 87% and was of ‘extremely high quality’. It had an estimated street value of between £13,000 to £16,000.
However, the court heard that the cocaine could have been cut with other substances to increase it to four times its initial weight. This could have given it an estimated street value of between £30,000 and £50,000.
McCarthy was subsequently arrested at the Airport as he tried to board a flight to Guernsey. He answered no comment to all questions when interviewed, was released and then travelled to England. However, his fingerprints were later found on the underside of the vehicle’s scuff plate. He was arrested again and brought back to Jersey.
Crown Advocate Matthew Maletroit, prosecuting, moved for a prison sentence of 5½ years for Ben-Sghaier, 6½ years for McCarthy and six years for Chadwick.
Advocate Sarah Dale, defending Ben-Sghaier, said her client suffered from a degenerative eye condition and needed the money so he could receive sight-saving surgery.
‘He is sincerely remorseful for his actions and now fully appreciates the harm he could have caused to the people of Jersey from his actions and he wishes to apologise,’ Advocate Dale said.
Advocate Mark Boothman, representing McCarthy, said Ben-Sghaier was a drug dealer to his client. He added that there was no evidence McCarthy had funded or organised the importation – indicating that he was not someone high up in the supply chain. He also noted that, unlike the other defendants, his client had no previous convictions and that although he had previously used drugs, there was no evidence to suggest that he was involved in their supply.
And Advocate Adam Harrison, representing Chadwick – a plasterer – said after the outbreak of Covid-19 there had been an industry-wide shortage of plaster and his income had dried up, starving him of funds to pay for accommodation.
Although he was eligible for income support, he had not applied for it as he was ‘too proud’ and ‘too stupid’. Instead, he began sofa surfing and was soon offered £500 to drive a car to Jersey.
Advocate Harrison said Chadwick knew the arrangement was ‘dodgy’ but did not ask any questions, as he knew receiving £500 would be the first step in getting his life back on track.
Ben-Sghaier was jailed for 6½ years, with McCarthy and Chadwick each being jailed for six years.
Commissioner Julian Clyde-Smith was presiding and Jurats Collette Crill, Charles Blampied and Jerry Ramsden were sitting.
