Huge seizure as police crack down on former "legal highs"

Wednesday 30 April 2014

Drugs with a street value of £180,000 have been seized in the last fortnight and three men face charges of possessing controlled drugs with intent to supply.

Police are warning Islanders of the damage that "lethal highs" can do after almost three kilos of ethylphenidate and mephedrone, which are both Class B drugs, were recovered in two separate seizures.

Two men aged 21 and 32 were arrested by Police in Grands Vaux on Thursday 17 April and charged with possession with intent to supply controlled drugs.

Customs and Immigration Officers then recovered around two kilos of mephedrone, with a street value of £120,000 from an address in St Clement. A 24-year-old man was arrested and has since been charged with possession with intent to supply.

A 25-year-old man was also arrested last Friday but has been released pending further enquiries.

Director of Law Enforcement at the Customs and Immigration Service Mark Cockerham said: “These are significant seizures, particularly considering the harm that is being caused in Jersey by New Psychoactive Substances. The seizures were as a direct result of working jointly with the States of Jersey Police and we will all continue to target those who are involved in the importation and distribution of these very dangerous substances.”

Police Inspector Craig Jackson said: “The targeting of those who are supplying NPS’ is a priority for all law enforcement agencies in the island. As a community we have seen the damage they can do and we would say to anyone thinking of taking any substance of this nature to refrain, you have no idea what is in it and no idea what damage it will do to you.”

Anyone with information about the supply of these drugs is asked to call the Police on 612612, Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 or Customs Immigration Freephone on 0800 735 5555.