Text messages read out in court showed how the friend of a drug smuggler expressed concern that he was doing “something stupid just for money” the day before he was caught attempting to import cocaine worth £750,000 into Jersey.
David Paul Rhodes from Bromley was jailed for 11 years yesterday.
The 53-year-old travelled to Jersey on Saturday 15 February from Portsmouth onboard the Condor Islander.
When stopped and questioned by Jersey Customs and Immigration Officers, he explained that he had originally booked to travel with his girlfriend.
But following a Valentine’s Day argument the previous day, Rhodes said she had decided not to travel.
The grey Nissan Juke that Rhodes was driving belonged to a long-term friend who agreed to allow him to borrow the vehicle to travel to Jersey.
A search of the vehicle was carried out with the aid of a drug detector dog, which provided positive drug indications within the vehicle.
Officers discovered six vacuum sealed packages containing a white powder concealed beneath the rear seat of the vehicle.
When Rhodes was shown the packages, he denied knowing what they were.
During interview he declined to provide any comment, but later pleaded guilty to the offence.
A search of Rhodes’s mobile phone revealed that he was repeatedly being asked to pay back money he owed.
Pictured: A mock-up of Rhodes’s Whatsapp messages from the day before he was caught attempting to import cocaine worth £750,000 into Jersey.
There were also messages to the same individual in which Rhodes asked to buy drugs.
The court heard that the context of the messages suggested that Rhodes was purchasing drugs from an individual that he was already indebted to.
WhatsApp messages were also found between Rhodes and a woman who expressed concern that he was doing “something stupid just for money” the day before the attempted smuggling.
She also wrote messages stating: “I’m scared for you” and “be safe”.
The packages found in Rhodes’s car were later found to contain three kilograms of high-purity cocaine.
Customs officers said it was likely the drugs would have been sold to consumers as a “premium” product or adulterated to increase the volume and value.
Following the sentencing, Paul Le Monnier, Senior Manager at Jersey Customs and Immigration Service, said: “In Jersey terms this was a significant seizure of cocaine destined for our streets and undoubtedly the seizure of this quantity of drugs has hurt the pockets of those concerned in organising the importation.”
Anyone with information on drug smuggling can report it anonymously via 0800 735 5555.