A MAN who helped import £30,000 worth of cannabis has been given a “final chance” to turn his life around as he was handed a community service order.
Curtis Morgan Aubert (23) admitted being knowingly concerned in the importation of cannabis, possession with intent to supply cannabis, and failing to disclose his phone PIN to customs officers.
Aubert was one of three men involved in importing the drugs from Spain – picking up the courier from the Airport instead of a co-conspirator who was already known to Customs officers.
Crown Advocate Mark Boothman, prosecuting, said Aubert went to the Airport on 5 February 2024, leaving with Dutch courier Evert Smallegange who had concealed 199 pellets internally – amounting to 998.98 grams of cannabis resin.
The drugs street value was estimated at between £20,000 and £30,000.
Both Smallegange and Aubert were arrested soon after, as was Oliver Lucas, who was driving the car. Lucas, who was a former associate of international drugs barron Curtis Warren, was given a community service order last year.
A further 446.11g of cannabis were found at Aubert’s flat, along with scales and self-sealing bags – which, the court was told, suggested Aubert was involved in selling drugs. He claimed this was CBD from a St Helier shop. However, he refused to give them the PIN code to his phone to investigating officers.
Aubert initially pleaded not guilty to all charges and had been due to face trial. However, he subsequently changed his pleas earlier this year.
Advocate Boothman reminded the court that failing to disclose a PIN code was a “serious” offence and that Aubert “demonstrates continued disregard for the law”. He moved for a total sentence of two years.
Advocate Heidi Heath, defending, said it was “important to consider the precise nature of Mr Aubert’s role” – which amounted to picking up a drugs mule from the Airport. He had been roped in by his friend – Lucas – who said Aubert was less recognisable.
She added that, being 21 at the time, Aubert was “still a young man” who had a “future ahead if he wants to grab it”.
“I am asking you to give him that opportunity,” she said.
Aubert said, in a letter of remorse read out in court, that custody had been “a shock” and that he never wanted to go back.
“I am truly sorry,” he added.
Advocate Heath concluded: “The real issue is the toll that these proceedings and the time on remand have taken on Mr Aubert. Prior to being remanded in custody, he was on bail for a very significant time, for the best part of two years.
“His travel was restricted, it impacted his ability to find work and it put additional pressures on his marriage, which ultimately broke down.
“Having this hanging over his head has been extremely stressful both on Mr Aubert and his family and support network as a whole. His life has been fundamentally affected by these proceedings.”
She added: “The right thing to do is to give Mr Aubert a chance to move away from the likes of Mr Lucas and to find something more constructive to do with his time. There is a real chance that he can build a positive future.”
Delivering the court’s sentence, Commissioner Alan Binnington, presiding said: “At the age of 23, you still have the chance to make something of your life, but that opportunity is diminishing.”
He had his advocate to thank for his non-custodial sentence, but warned that this was a “final chance to demonstrate that you can make something of your life”.
Aubert was sentenced to 180 hours for the importation, 150 hours running concurrently for possession with intent to supply, and 150 hours consecutively for the PIN offence – adding up to 330 hours. He was also given a one-year probation order.
Customs and Immigration Senior Manager Luke Goddard said: “This case shows that criminal syndicates go to significant lengths to attempt to import illicit drugs and that JCIS is well equipped to target them and convict them for the parts they play.”
Commissioner Binnington was sitting with Jurats Le Cornu and Gardener.
