TWO men who smuggled high-purity cocaine into Jersey have both been jailed for five years.
Paul Antony Leeming (38) and Paul Arnett (60) both arrived in the Island off a flight from Liverpool on 2 May, the Royal Court heard on Thursday.
Crown Advocate Lauren Hallam, prosecuting, said the pair were stopped and questioned by Jersey Customs and Immigration officers and claimed they had come to collect some of Arnett’s belongings, left behind when he had been working in the Island.
But traces of cocaine were found in a holdall and wallet and the officers suspected that they were carrying drugs internally.
CT scans at the Hospital showed “abnormal structures” in both men’s abdomens. Arnett produced two packages containing 28.16 grams, while Leeming produced three packages containing 34.47 grams of cocaine.
The drugs both men were carrying were found to be of 78% purity.
Crown Advocate Hallam said “high-purity cocaine is likely to attract high prices,” and the court heard the drugs had an estimated street value of £15,750.
Both men said during interview that the drugs were for personal use, though Leeming later added that he would be sharing it with friends.
The Crown Advocate said both had a string of previous convictions and were deemed at high risk of reconviction within the next 12 months.
None of Arnett’s previous convictions were for drugs but one of Leeming’s was for drugs possession. She added that Leeming is currently awaiting sentencing in the UK for a grievous bodily harm charge.
She recommended jail sentences of five years for both, saying: “Their roles are identical.”
Advocate Ian Jones, defending Arnett, pointed out that the typical sentences the Crown had considered were for importations of between 25g and 50g of drugs.
But he said that since Arnett had brought in 28g his offence was towards the bottom of the scale.
He added: “He made a full and frank admission.”
Advocate Julia-Anne Dix, defending Leeming, said his previous drugs conviction was 12 years ago, for possession of a small amount of amphetamine. He had never been in prison before and she said his period on remand had been “a shock to his system”.
The advocate added that he had suffered difficulties in his life which had driven him to abusing alcohol and drugs, and had submitted a letter of remorse.
And she stressed that both men were engaged in “a solo operation” rather than as couriers for a larger network.
Bailiff Sir Timothy Le Cocq said the Jurats had agreed with the Crown’s recommended sentences.
Jurats Dulake, Averty, Cornish, Le Heuzé and Powell were sitting.
After the sentencing, Paul Le Monnier, senior manager at Jersey Customs and Immigration Service, said: “This was clearly a commercial importation of cocaine carried out by the two men for financial gain.
“The importation of cocaine carries significant penalties, and the sentences handed out today demonstrate the seriousness of the offence and the stance the Island takes against drug trafficking.”
