A MAN who was involved in an attempt to smuggle cocaine into Jersey – and who then tried to pass some cocaine to his accomplice, who was already imprisoned in HMP La Moye – has been jailed for eight and a half years.
Keaton Thomas Biggins (28) and his accomplice Jake Thompson (25) both came to Jersey from Stockport in the smuggling attempt in October last year, the Royal Court was told.
Crown Advocate Lauren Hallam, prosecuting, said Thompson was carrying the 113 grams of cocaine in a condom concealed internally.
Biggins flew over a few days earlier and was to receive the drugs and distribute them to buyers he had lined up.
Crown Advocate Hallam said the drugs were of 31% purity and would have had a street value of anywhere between £17,000 and £28,500.
Thompson’s mobile phone showed that he was in regular contact with Biggins. “Thompson was simply the courier,” she said. “Biggins directed Thompson.”
The advocate said Thompson had been caught with the drugs by Customs officers, admitted the offence and was jailed for five years and eight months in January.
Then Biggins had visited him in prison and while shaking hands with Thompson had given him a gram of cocaine.
The exchange was captured on CCTV in the visiting hall, with Thompson seen putting the hand containing the drugs in his pocket.
Biggins had previous convictions from the UK for driving while under the influence of drugs and drugs possession, and Crown Advocate Hallam said he was considered at medium risk of reconviction, close to the threshold of high risk.
She recommended a jail term of eight and a half years.
Advocate Julia-Anne Dix, defending, said that was “significantly too high”.
She explained that Biggins and Thompson had been friends since childhood. Biggins had planned to move to Jersey “for a fresh start” but before he left a drug dealer in the UK persuaded the pair to smuggle cocaine into the Island for a one-off payment.
Thompson was to carry the drugs inside his body and Biggins was to receive them and pass them on.
She said: “He is certainly not the main player. Mr Biggins and Mr Thompson are mere puppets. The puppeteers remain in the UK and are not brought to justice.”
She also pointed out that Biggins had no previous offences for drug trafficking and had written a letter of remorse, and said: “He would not be here were it not for his own drug addiction.”
Sir William Bailhache, presiding, said the Jurats agreed with the prosecution’s recommendation. He said: “This was for economic gain, at the expense of the health and equilibrium of Islanders.
There is no excuse for that conduct.” He added: “Anyone who takes drugs into prison can expect tough sentences in future.”
Biggins was jailed for four years for his involvement in the drug importing and a consecutive four and a half years for taking drugs into La Moye.
Jurats Averty, Le Heuzé, Opferman, Berry and Powell were sitting.
