Cocaine found hidden in parcel of candles

Tuesday, 12 May 2026 10:41

Images supplied by JCIS. Inset: Benjamin Jake Bartlett Noble

A man from Stockport been jailed for smuggling cocaine into Jersey hidden in candles.

Benjamin Jake Bartlett Noble has been sentenced to three years and four months in prison by Jersey's Royal Court.

In July 2024, Customs Officers intercepted a parcel at Post Headquarters labelled as containing three candles and addressed fictitiously to a Sue Cooper.

In fact, two of the candles had been hollowed out, and packages containing cocaine with a street value of £14,300 (57.15 grams) were discovered inside.

Officers searched the property in St Helier that the parcel was addressed to under warrant and arrested 24 year old Bartlett Noble.

They found a 'sorry, we missed you' postal docket in the name of Sue Copper.

Barlett Noble was interviewed, and denied all knowledge of the packet. Examination of his phone revealed searches relating to the parcel's tracking number and evidence he had arrangement for its re-delivery.

During the investigation he returned to the UK.

An arrest warrant was issued to bring him back to the island. He was returned and charged in January this year.

He eventually pleaded guilty to importation on the basis that he was due to receive the packet and hand it on to an unnamed third party.

Paul Le Monnier, Senior Manager at Jersey Customs and Immigration Service, said it was a 'fairly sophisticated attempt to import cocaine through the postal system'.

"Despite Bartlett Nobles best efforts to evade prosecution, he has now been sentenced for his role in the importation.

"JCIS continue to work closely with Jersey Post and law enforcement partners to disrupt those who attempt to exploit postal services to import drugs into Jersey.”