20 November 2025
Diana Bowmen, aged 26 from London, has today been sentenced
by the Royal Court to five years’ imprisonment for the importation of over two kilograms of
cocaine.
Bowmen arrived in the Island on Tuesday 24 June 2025, onboard the Stena Vinga vessel from
Portsmouth. She was stopped and questioned by Jersey Customs and Immigration Officers and
stated that she was visiting the Island for a two day break and to relax. She advised officers that
she knew no one in the Island and would be staying at The Royal Yacht Hotel.
Officers carried out
a search of her baggage and discovered an unusual number of large Galaxy chocolate bars, which
she explained she would be taking back to the UK to melt down and make a cake with her nieces.
In addition, a small amount of cannabis debris was found within a clear plastic deal bag.
Examination of the 11 chocolate bars discovered in Bowmen’s baggage, found that seven of
them consisted of a compressed white powder, which field tested positive to cocaine. The bars
were later analysed and found to consist of 2121 grams of cocaine with a street value of £261,000.
Bowmen was arrested and interviewed and provided “no comment” throughout. It was later
established, from phone examination, that Bowmen had been in communication with a contact
only identified as “M” making arrangements for her travel and sending photographs of the
chocolate bars containing cocaine advising her to purchase similar bars. It was also noted that
Bowmen had travelled on nearly a monthly basis from September 2024 to destinations all over
the world including Thailand, Istanbul, Jamaica and Kuwait.
Paul Le Monnier, Senior Manager at Jersey Customs and Immigration Service, said: “This was an
ingenious method to disguise a significant amount of cocaine and not one that we have seen
before. It also clearly shows a level of sophistication of those organising this importation but
fortunately, the vigilance of our officers prevented these drugs from reaching our streets.”
Anyone with information on drug smuggling can report it anonymously via 0800 735 5555.
gov.je