07 October 2011
Islanders who order substances over the internet are being advised by Customs and Immigration to carry out more research before doing so.
The advice comes following a significant increase in seizures of controlled drugs at the Post Office in the last 2 months, the majority of which have been the Class B drug, Mephedrone. When interviewed some individuals have said that they had been assured by the sender that the drugs were a ‘legal high’. Analysis of the substances, however, has proved otherwise and has resulted in search warrants being executed at numerous addresses in the Island, with people being arrested and charged.
Steven Le Marquand, Director, Law Enforcement in the Customs and Immigration Service, said “In spite of previous warnings, some people continue to order substances over the internet that, on analysis, are discovered to be controlled drugs.
"If the substance is advertised on legal high websites as either 'jolly green granules,' 'magic crystals' or 'plant food,' or there is an indication that the substance is not fit for human consumption, then it is likely that it is the controlled drug Mephedrone. If that turns out to be the case, then those individuals can expect to be the subject of subsequent enforcement action, potentially leading to a criminal charge and a court appearance.”
Mephedrone is illegal and has been a Class B controlled drug in Jersey since June 2010. It can cause anxiety and paranoid states, a risk of heart and circulatory problems, and over-stimulation of the nervous system, with risk of fits and of agitated and paranoid states and hallucinations, as well as the risk of dependency.
Islanders can help Customs to tackle drug smuggling. If you have any information please call the Customs and Immigration Service confidential freephone on 0800 735 5555 and speak to an officer in complete confidence.
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