Two men from UK jailed in Jersey for £16,000 cocaine smuggling attempt

Thursday, 21 August 2025 13:21

Credit: Jersey Customs & Immigration Service

Paul Antony Leeming, 38 and Paul Arnett, 60, have been jailed by Jersey's Royal Court for attempting to smuggle £16,000 of cocaine into the island.

Jersey Customs and Immigration stopped the pair from Stockton-on-Tees after they caught a flight from Liverpool on 2 May 2025.

Officers asked why they were in the island, and they said they were visiting to pick up some of Arnett's possessions that he had left when he used to work in Jersey.

During a search of their bags, several items tested positive for traces of cocaine.

The men were then arrested on suspicion of importing drugs.

Following positive CT scans, it was discovered that the pair were both carrying drug packages internally.

The 60-year-old produced two packages, totalling 28.16 grams, and his 38-year-old counterpart was carrying three packages, with a combined weight of 34.47 grams of cocaine.

The 62.63 grams of cocaine totals to a street value of £15,750.

Credit: Jersey Customs & Immigration

Leeming told officers in an interview that his haul was for personal use and to share with his friends in the island.

Arnett admitted to being a heavy cocaine user and told Customs and Immigration that his packages were also for personal use.

Paul Le Monnier, Senior Manager at Jersey Customs and Immigration Service, says this was clearly a commercial importation of cocaine carried out by the two men for financial gain.

"The importation of cocaine carries significant penalties, and the sentences handed out today demonstrate the seriousness of the offence and the stance the Island takes against drug trafficking."

Both men have been sentenced to five years each by Jersey's Royal Court.