Man who dug up cocaine in woods is jailed

Friday, 22 May 2026 11:00

A man who dug up cocaine in woods at Grands Vaux has been jailed for six and half years.

Jamie Lagadu, 25, was caught in a surveillance operation by Jersey Police, dubbed Operation Astral.

Cocaine with an estimated street value of up to £270K was seized.

Lagadu was watched going into woods at Grands Vaux on 7 November. When he left, officers found a large dig site and a number of tools.

He was observed returning to the area a few days later.

On 12 November, Drugs Squad officers found a zip-lock bag hidden at the base of a tree. It had 410 grams of cocaine inside.

Just over a week later, Lagadu was watched going into a wooded area near Pillar Gardens, where he dug up around 1 kilo of cocaine.

He removed a small amount and was arrested as he returned to his vehicle.

Lagadu admitted being concerned in the supply of a Class A drug. He was also convicted of failing to provide the PIN number to his mobile phone.

He claimed to have been recruited to be a 'minder' for the two stashes, and said he could not locate the first. He told police that, on the day of his arrest he has been instructed to 'check the condition' of the second stash and that he could 'take a few grams' as payment.

Detective Sergeant Alasdair Castle from the SOJP Drug Squad said:

“This outcome reflects months of dedicated, professional policing and demonstrates the commitment of the Drug Squad in tackling the supply of Class A drugs, which cause significant harm in our community.

"Cocaine is now the most prevalent drug encountered by the States of Jersey Police, and disrupting its supply remains a key priority due to the harm it causes across the Island.

"The Drug Squad will continue to work tirelessly to keep our island safe by pursuing those who seek to profit from the supply of illegal drugs."