A DRUG trafficker – who turned to heavy cocaine use after the murder of his father – has been jailed for more than four years after being caught at the Airport with £17,500 worth of the Class A drug.
Findlay John Mackay (27), had five wrapped packages on him during a failed attempt to smuggle 68.75g of cocaine into Jersey on 2 October 2025.
He was found in possession of the Class A drug after flying to the Island with his girlfriend from Glasgow Airport.
The couple were searched by custom officers and arrested on suspicion of importing a controlled drug. His girlfriend was subsequently released without charge, but Mackay admitted to officers that he had several bags of cocaine stowed inside him.
The trip, he said, was instigated by a man he had met in Manchester – who instructed him to go to KFC to await instructions before booking a room at the Radisson Blu for four days.
But his mission was intercepted, and Mackay entered a guilty plea to drug importation four days later at the Magistrate’s Court.
The total value of the cocaine was worth between £10,500 and £17,500.
The Superior Number of the Royal Court – which only convenes for the most serious offences – heard that the 27-year-old has 60 previous convictions for a range of offences, including three for possession of drugs.
Crown Advocate Carla Carvalho, prosecuting, said: “The defendant arrived in Jersey after travelling from Glasgow with his partner.
“Officers spoke with the couple who stated they were in Jersey to visit the girlfriend’s grandmother who was said to be unwell.
“Prohibitions and restrictions in force were explained, including those in relation to controlled drugs.
“The defendant was asked if he had any prohibited items on him – including internally – he stated that he did not.”
However, the court heard that shortly after being arrested Mackay admitted to having “an ounce inside of me” to Customs officers.
Advocate Carvalho added: “In interview, he stated that since his father died in 2013 he had been consuming large quantities of cocaine, and was taking a heroin substitute.
“He’d run up a debt of £10,000 and further stated his partner was not aware of the drugs importation.”
Advocate Allana Binnie, defending, noted that the imported cocaine was of “extremely low purity both in terms of statistics in Jersey and the UK”.
She argued that the drug “could have been bulked out with a completely harmless substance”, and asked the Bailiff to disregard a drug valuation report put forward by the prosecution.
Ms Binnie stated that her client – who she said turned to heavy drugs following the murder of his father just over ten years ago – had both diagnosed ADHD and suspected PTSD.
“There is a constant pattern of offending, beginning some ten years ago, evidencing a chaotic life – the start of which ties in almost exactly with the murder of his father”, she said.
For his role as a “courier”, Mackay was sentenced to four years and four months in prison.
A further order was made for the forfeiture of the drugs.
Jurats Robert Christensen, David Le Heuzé, Alison Opfermann, Michael Entwistle and Michael Berry were sitting. Deputy Bailiff Mark Temple was presiding.
Speaking after the sentencing, Paul Le Monnier, senior manager at Jersey Customs and Immigration Service, said: “All too often we hear that individuals are pressured and threatened to carry out drug importations to settle their debts.
“However, this does not remove personal accountability. Drug importations harm our community and those participating regardless of their reason should expect severe sentences. The vigilance of our JCIS Officers stopped these drugs from reaching our streets.”
