24 July 2025
Two women have today appeared before Jersey’s Royal Court and been sentenced for
attempting to import cocaine into the Island, with a street value of £21,000.
Stephanie Louise Dean, aged 42 from Tipton, was sentenced to two years and six months’
imprisonment, and Jaye Eleanor Henry, aged 28, from Stourbridge, was given a 384-hour
community service order.
They arrived in the Island on Wednesday 16 April 2025 having travelled from Portsmouth on the Stena
Vinga ferry. When questioned by Jersey Customs and Immigration Officers, the women explained that they
were in Jersey for one night, having booked their travel the day before and would be staying at the Savoy Hotel. Dean and Henry stated that they had been driven from Birmingham to Portsmouth to catch the ferry.
During a search of their baggage several swabs were taken which gave positive indications for cocaine with
both women admitting to cocaine use the previous weekend. Officers became suspicious that the women
were importing drugs internally and they were subsequently arrested. Dean then stated to officers: “I have to
come clean; I have got something on me”. She later produced a condom-wrapped package containing 83.74
grams of cocaine with a purity of 84%.
During interview Dean said she was unaware what the package actually contained, thinking it was cannabis,
but agreed to import the drugs into Jersey to clear her drugs debt of between £800 and £900, that she owed
to a man named “Bubba”.
Henry was found not to be carrying any drugs but stated that the individual who had driven them to
Portsmouth had tried to pass her the package which she refused and was given to Dean. She stated that
Dean was getting paid £2,000 to import the drugs and that she would receive spending money for travelling
with her. Phone messaging indicated that Henry was aware of the package and was to be paid for the
importation.
Paul Le Monnier, Senior Manager at Jersey Customs and Immigration Service, said: “Our officers continue to
disrupt the importation of controlled drugs at our borders and whilst these two women were clearly not the
organisers of the importation, Dean was the courier of the drugs and Henry a willing accomplice with both
women being paid for their roles."
Anyone with information on drug smuggling can report it anonymously via 0800 735 5555.