Cocaine importer flushed part of concealed haul down toilet

Joseph Logan, 42, from Scotland, admitted importing a total of 84.98grams of the class A substance which he had concealed internally in four packages. It had a local street value of up to £12,747.

He also admitted doing an act intended to pervert the course of justice by trying to flush the drugs away.

He was jailed for eight years for the importation, plus nine months consecutive for an act intended to pervert the course of justice.

Advocate Marc Davies, prosecuting, told the court how the defendant had arrived on a flight from Manchester on the evening of 8 October.

He told Border Agency staff that he had come to the island for his cousin’s stag party and planned to return the next day. There were no details of where he was staying or return travel.

An ion scan of his wallet tested positive for cocaine though a strip search revealed nothing.

He was suspected of having drugs concerned internally and agreed to an X-ray and to provide a urine sample.

When the latter proved positive for THC and cocaine, he said he smoked a joint most nights, but had not used crack for eight weeks.

He became verbally obstructive. He was taken to hospital where he told officers they would need to have a good book. He refused to wear a white suit or to eat and drink.

When he flushed two packages down the toilet, a search of the PEH drains had to be conducted to establish which pipe connected to the relevant room, and both packages were recovered.

He then told officers that there were two more packages and apologised for what he had done.

He gave ‘no comment’ responses in interview.

He was discharged from hospital on 13 October and appeared in the Magistrate’s Court the next day.

Logan had previous convictions and had been in custody since his arrest.

Passing sentence, Lt-Bailiff Russell Finch said: ‘I have no doubt that you knew what you were doing and that it was against the law.'

Two cases in court this week

The case was one of two instances of cocaine importation through internal concealment heard by the Royal Court this week.

‘This is extremely dangerous and can easily be fatal,’ said a spokesman for Bailiwick Law Enforcement.

‘Managing this risk is not only demanding on the Customs officers but also on the medical professionals who are required to support the individual’s welfare.’