Disposal of vehicle used to illegally import controlled drugs

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A decision made 26 June 2017:

Decision Reference: MD-HA-2017-0052
Decision Summary Title :	Disposal of Mini Cooper registration VE54CWT		Date of Decision Summary:	19 June 2017
Decision Summary Author:	Steven Le Marquand, Director		Decision Summary: Public or Exempt? (State clauses from Code of Practice booklet)	Public
Type of Report: Oral or Written?	Written		Person Giving Oral Report:
Written Report Title :	Disposal of Mini Cooper registration VE54CWT		Date of Written Report:	19 June 2017
Written Report Author:	Steven Le Marquand, Director		Written Report : Public or Exempt? (State clauses from Code of Practice booklet)	Public
Subject: Disposal of vehicle used to import controlled drugs into Jersey.
Decision(s): The Assistant Minister authorised the disposal of this vehicle for scrap.
Reason(s) for Decision: The vehicle, having been used to import cannabis resin into Jersey on 13 January 2017, was seized on 12 April 2017 under Article 54 of the Customs and Excise (Jersey) Law, 1999. Article 55 of the Law empowers the Assistant Minister to direct how any vehicle condemned as forfeited is disposed of.
Resource Implications: None
Action required: Director to arrange for its disposal for scrap.
Signature:		Position:
Date Signed:		Date of Decision (If different from Date Signed):

Disposal of vehicle used to illegally import controlled drugs

Decision Summary Report

Community and Constitutional Affairs

Customs and Immigration Service

To: Assistant Minister for Home Affairs

Submitted by: Steven Le Marquand, Director Law Enforcement

Date: 19 June 2017

Subject: Disposal of Mini Cooper VE54CWT

Background

On 13 January 2017 the above vehicle was used in connection with the importation into Jersey of 57kgs of cannabis resin with a maximum street value of £1,155,000.

The vehicle was seized by the Customs and Immigration Service on 12 April 2017 under Article 54 of the Customs and Excise (Jersey) Law, 1999. No notice of claim has been made in connection with the seizure and the vehicle is deemed to have been duly condemned as forfeited in accordance with the 3rd Schedule of the 1999 Law.

Article 55 of the 1999 Law empowers the Minister to direct the manner of disposal of the vehicle.

The Mini Cooper has an odometer reading of 102,770 miles, it requires some remedial work and is assessed by the Transport and Technical Services Department to have a value of approximately £980.

Before this vehicle could be lawfully used on the public roads in Jersey, it would require to be registered on Jersey plates and for Vehicle Emissions Duty and Goods and Service Tax to be paid. Given these unavoidable costs, the vehicle is not considered economically viable to restore for road use.

Recommendation

In light of these circumstances, the Assistant Minister is recommended to direct that Mini Cooper VE54CWT is scrapped.