Monday 12 November 2012
Guernsey's Royal Court has handed out prison sentences to three men for drug trafficking offences
Five years and six months imprisonment for possession with intent to supply Class A controlled drugs; and three years and six months imprisonment for possession with intent to supply Class B controlled drugs
On 8 November 2012, 24-year-old Stewart Alaine Neal Turney and 21-year old Declan Paul Glass, both local residents, appeared before the Guernsey Royal Court.
Turney pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply a controlled drug, namely the Class B drug Cannabis Resin. Glass pleaded guilty to the supply of a controlled drug, namely the Class A drug Methylenedioxymethylamphetamine (MDMA), commonly known as Ecstasy; possession with intent to supply MDMA; and two counts for the possession of Cannabis Resin.
Turney was sentenced to three years and six months imprisonment; and Glass, to five years and six months imprisonment.
The total quantity of Cannabis Resin would have had a potential local resale value of between £5,260.00 and £6,575. The total quantity of MDMA would have had a potential local street value of between £1,875 and £2,460.
The senior investigating officer from the Guernsey Border Agency reported the case and outlined the partnership working with the Guernsey Police on 26 March 2012, when Turney and Glass were identified walking towards the external fence outside the recreational area of the States of Guernsey Prison.
They were approached by officers where they were seen hunched over a bag which had been placed on the ground. The bag was searched and 202.14 grams of Cannabis Resin was found. During a search of Glass 1.50 grams of Cannabis Resin was found in his wallet.
A subsequent search of Glass's home address by officers found a tin which contained 58.40 grams of Cannabis Resin and a digital safe which when opened contained 93 tablets and 5.93 grams of MDMA.
Judge Finch remarked that the evidence against them was compelling and the fact that they were apprehended at the States of Guernsey Prison was an aggravating factor.
Both Turney and Glass's sentences run from the date of their arrest.
-ENDS-
Four years imprisonment for the importation of the Class A controlled drug Methylamphetamine
On 9 November 2012, Aleksandrs Zarins, a 33-year-old Latvian who had been working for a local building contractor, appeared before the Guernsey Royal Court where he pleaded guilty to importing 7.62g of Methylamphetamine. He was sentenced to four years imprisonment.
The Court also recommended that His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor consider that Zarins be deported.
The drugs would have had a potential resale value in Guernsey of between £640 and £1,200.
On 22 May 2012, Zarins was stopped by Guernsey Border Agency Officers when he arrived at St Peter Port after travelling from Portsmouth. When questioned, Zarins stated he had recently used a powder which he thought was amphetamine. During a search of his person, the remains of a condom were found in his underpants. It was suspected that he had internally concealed controlled drugs and therefore arrested and detained.
The following morning a package containing the drug was found inside a paper suit that Zarins had been wearing.
In his summing up, Judge Finch said that Zarins' guilty plea was inevitable and that his internal concealment of the drugs was an aggravating factor. He further noted that there does not currently appear to be a market for this drug in the Island and he hoped this remained.
Zarins' sentence is to run from the date of his arrest.
-ENDS-
Confidential Drugline
0800 318 318
Call anonymously with any information on drug trafficking
