SEIZURES of cocaine in Jersey this year are already more than double the total weight confiscated last year, with the Class A stimulant becoming the social drug of choice in the Island, the JEP can reveal.
More than 3 kg were seized by Customs in the first half of this year, with another 2.5 kg being analysed. This compares to 1.5 kg confiscated in the whole of last year and 1.3 kg in 2023.
This year’s haul is skewed by a single importation in February of 3 kg but enforcement agencies are unequivocal that cocaine in the biggest drugs threat currently facing the Island.
They say that gone are the days when cocaine was the party drug of the rich and famous; it is now being used by every strata of society.
The risks, however, are real: last year, drug-poisoning deaths in England and Wales reached the highest level in 30 years, fuelled by a 30% rise in fatalities involving cocaine. The highly addictive drug causes a heightened sense of euphoria but has many side effects, including anxiety, paranoia and an elevated risk of heart attack.
Cocaine can be particularly dangerous when mixed with alcohol. It can also be cut with other unknown powders, including benzocaine, flour, paracetamol and caffeine.
Customs officer Paul Le Monnier, who is the service’s senior manager with responsibility for borders, said that Jersey was following the UK trend when it came to increasing cocaine use, although the street price was significantly more in the Island.
He said: “Looking at the worldwide trends, you have a reduction in heroin in Afghanistan and a massive increase in cocaine production in Colombia, Bolivia and Chile.
“There is also a rise in cocaine labs across Europe. They receive cocaine base and turn it into powder; it is cheaper to source cocaine base and make it into powder than smuggle it as a block.
“This has driven accessibility in Europe. They receive base in a carrier material, such as canvas and plastic, and the lab then extracts that using chemicals and turns it into powder.
“With the rise of social media and apps, it has become a lot more accessible; gone at the days when you asked your dealer on a street corner.”
Mr Le Monnier said some of the reasons for its rise in popularity in Jersey were potentially the increasing price of alcohol, the retraction of the night-time economy, and the fact that it has seen a resurgence in the UK.
“However, there has not been drop in the price in Jersey, which indicates that the accessibility has not increased hugely,” he added.
The street price in the UK is around £50 a gram but in Jersey it is between £150 and £250 a gram.
The 3 kg importation in February was concealed in a car that arrived from Portsmouth driven by 53-year-old David Paul Rhodes from Bromley.
Customs officers discovered six vacuum sealed packages containing the drug concealed beneath the rear seat of the vehicle. In May, he was sent to prison for 11 years.
Customs have also seized smaller amounts brought in vehicles, concealed internally or sent through the post.
Mr Le Monnier said: “It is a lucrative activity here because of the mark up. This will be a record year when it comes to seizures, for sure: there has been a significant rise the quantity in individual seizures.”
He added: “We use all of our effort to target our borders, including the Post Office, to make sure that these drugs do not reach the streets. The harm and misery that this drug causes is all too obvious. Our priority is to seize Class A controlled drugs and arrest and prosecute those responsible to protect our community.”
The senior officer said that, conversely, seizures of cannabis had reduced significantly, primarily driven by the growth of the prescription market.
Speaking anonymously to the JEP, a Drugs Squad police officer said: “It is the drug we deal with most these days by a considerable margin. Because the price is so high in Jersey, we don’t want to become a market for organised crime groups from the UK and that is why the sentences our courts give out need to stay high.
“We cannot take our eye of the ball. Violent UK crime syndicates could target Jersey but we’ll do all we can to stop that happening. A light touch is not an option.”
He added: “Cocaine is used by all sections of society, from those who struggle to make ends meet and live a relatively chaotic lifestyle to the white-collar user. The latter, however, tends not to draw as much attention to themselves as those further down the socio-economic scale.”
Detective Chief Inspector Mark Hafey, who is responsible for Crime Services at the police, including the Drug Squad, said: “Cocaine remains the most prevalent drug threat to Jersey, with intelligence indicating that approximately 70% of all drug-related information relates to this substance.
“Organised criminal networks are employing increasingly sophisticated methods to smuggle cocaine into Jersey, including postal services, air and sea couriers, hidden compartments in vehicles, and maritime smuggling routes. These tactics reflect the growing professionalism and reach of criminal organisations operating across Europe.”
He continued: “The States of Jersey Police work in close collaboration with the Jersey Customs and Immigration Service, deploying a range of strategies to combat drug trafficking and dealing.
“These include intelligence-led policing, targeted raids and warrants, and proactive community engagement. By disrupting supply chains, we aim to reduce the availability of dangerous drugs like cocaine and mitigate the broader harms associated with drug trafficking, including violence, property crime, and organised criminal activity.”
“Individuals who import or distribute cocaine – or any other illegal drug – should expect to be targeted by the police and Customs. They should be prepared for arrest, property searches, and asset seizures.
“Our focus is not only on removing drugs from circulation but also on confiscating items believed to have been acquired through criminal activity. We are committed to putting offenders before the court and ensuring that Jersey remains a safe place to live with low levels of crime.
“The Drug Squad continues to play a vital role in protecting our community. Their work is tireless and often unseen, but it is instrumental in safeguarding the island from the harm caused by drug misuse and trafficking.”
Det Insp Hafey added that smugglers – and other criminals – could no longer seek comfort that refusing to give up their phone’s PIN code would conceal evidence.
He said: “A recent case that underscores the effectiveness of our approach is the sentencing of 34-year-old Joseph John Reaney. Last month, Reaney was sentenced to six years and ten months for drug offences, including possession of cocaine with intent to supply and failing to disclose his mobile phone PIN under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers (Jersey) Law.
“A warrant executed at his home uncovered 40.89g of cocaine, with a street value of up to £10,250. Reaney’s refusal to provide access to his phone led to an additional ten-month sentence, demonstrating the seriousness with which the courts treat obstruction of investigations.
Detective Constable Jack Maguire, the investigating officer, said: “States of Jersey Police are committed to putting those responsible for supplying these drugs before the courts to protect our community from the harm they can cause.
“The consecutive sentence handed to Reaney for failing to provide his PIN shows that the courts take this matter seriously and should act as a warning to other would-be offenders.”
Addressing the health risks of taking cocaine, Professor Peter Bradley, Director of Public Health said: “The use of any illegal drug carries risk, and the safest option is not to use cocaine.
“However, when cocaine is used, harm reduction advice is key: be informed, start low and go slow, avoid mixing with other drugs or alcohol, and never share straw or notes with anyone else.
“Using cocaine in smaller amounts and less often can reduce the risk of harm, tolerance, and dependency. Anyone experiencing chest pain, breathing difficulties, seizures, or unresponsiveness should seek urgent medical help immediately.”
