19 February 2026
Findlay John MACKAY, aged 27 from Dumfries has
been sentenced by the Royal Court to four years
and four months imprisonment for the importation of cocaine, with a
street value of £17,500.
MACKAY arrived in the Island on Thursday 2 October 2025 on a flight
from Glasgow, travelling with his girlfriend. The couple were stopped
and questioned by Jersey Customs and Immigration Officers and
stated they were visiting the Island for a few days to see his girlfriend’s
sick grandmother, which later transpired not to be true. A number of
swabs taken from MACKAY’s belongings proved positive to cocaine
and he admitted to both cocaine and cannabis use.
MACKAY was arrested on suspicion of importing controlled drugs and
whilst being detained stated “I have an ounce inside me”. He
subsequently produced five packages in total with a combined weight
of 68.71 grams of cocaine.
During interview MACKAY said that he had been coming off heroin
substitute since 2013 following the death of his father, but had turned
to heavy cocaine use, which had resulted in a drugs debt of
approximately £10,000. He stated that he had been instructed to
import the cocaine to Jersey by an unnamed male from Manchester in
order to clear that debt but also stated that he was threatened that his
mother’s house would be burned down, if he refused to carry out the
importation.
Paul Le Monnier, Senior Manager at Jersey Customs and Immigration
Service, said: “All too often we hear that individuals are pressured and
threatened to carry out drug importations to settle their debts.
However, this does not remove personal accountability. Drug
importations harm our community and those participating regardless
of their reason should expect severe sentences. The vigilance of our
JCIS Officers stopped these drugs from reaching our streets.”
gov.je