Jail for cocaine-smuggling 'angler' after officers spot something fishy

Monday 16 October 2023

A 54-year-old man has been jailed for almost four years for attempting to import £28,000-worth of cocaine under the false pretence of travelling to Jersey for a fishing trip with his elderly father.

Philip Roy Delduca, from Chester, travelled to the island on Sunday 11 June on the boat from Poole in a vehicle driven by his father.

But Delduca had stashed 112 grams of cocaine under the passenger seat carpet.

Pictured: Delduca travelled to Jersey on-board the Condor from Poole as a passenger in a vehicle driven by his elderly father.

When stopped by Customs officers at the Harbour, Delduca stated that he was visiting Jersey with his father for a short break and to go fishing.

Drug swabs taken from inside the vehicle and Delduca’s possessions tested positive for traces of cocaine and a subsequent of the vehicle led to the discovery of the drugs hidden under the passenger seat within a silver foil package containing Kinder Eggs wrapped in cling film and a blue latex glove.

Delduca immediately took ownership of the drugs stating that his father knew nothing about it.

Pictured: Delduca had stashed 112 grams of cocaine under the passenger seat carpet.

Appearing before the Superior Number of Royal Court this morning for sentencing, Delduca was jailed for three years and 10 months.

Paul Le Monnier, Senior Manager for Borders at Jersey Customs and Immigration Service, said: “It has been a busy season for our Jersey Customs and Immigration Officers working at the borders, and their hard work has resulted in a good number of commercial seizures of controlled drugs.

"The sentencing of this individual draws the investigation to a successful conclusion.”