Three sentenced for drug and money laundering offences

10 March 2022

​Three men from Liverpool have today (10 March) been sentenced to a total of 28 years following charges of conspiracy to supply cocaine and offences relating to money laundering.

The men, and their sentences, are as follows:

• Stephen Graham Ferguson, 40, received nine years and four months
• David John Morgan, 42, received nine years and four months
• David John Saunders, 44, received nine years and four months

The result follows an investigation by Jersey Customs and Immigration Service (JCIS), named Operation Kestrel. The investigation began in 2019 and focused on the importation of commercial quantities of cocaine into the island, along with the attempted exportation of the proceeds of drug trafficking.

The trio were first arrested in 2020, following their attempts to smuggle cocaine with a street value of up to £41,160 into Jersey, via the airport. They were subsequently released pending further investigations, which involved analysing a significant number of messages between the men and other associates, financial investigations and close collaboration with the National Crime Agency.

Ferguson and Saunders were then re-arrested in Jersey and charged with the offences in June 2021, while Morgan was arrested in the UK and brought back to Jersey shortly afterwards for charge and remand.

The three pleaded guilty in October following indictment.

Rhiannon Small, Senior Manager at JCIS, said: 'The sentences today are the culmination of what has been a very lengthy and complex investigation into a Liverpool based syndicate, who were targeting Jersey to traffic Class A drugs.

'JCIS officers have worked painstakingly and diligently to ensure that the men, who were facilitating multiple importations of commercial quantities of cocaine into Jersey, have been caught and have faced justice. The smuggling of drugs and the laundering of the proceeds of crime remain a high priority of the Customs & Immigration Service, and one which we will continue to work hard to combat.'

If anyone has information on drug smuggling, they can report it anonymously on 0800 735 5555.