04 January 2024
A 55-year-old man from London has been sentenced to six years and four months imprisonment for the importation of 57.36 grams of cocaine.
Andrew Kyriakou, born 16/01/1968, arrived in Jersey on Wednesday 12 July 2023, as a foot passenger on board the Condor vessel from Poole, when he was stopped by Jersey Customs and Immigration Service (JCIS) officers.
He stated that he was visiting the Island to see friends, but officers discovered that he had a return flight ticket to London that evening, allowing him only a few hours in the Island.
Following positive drug swabs for cocaine from his personal effects, officers suspected that he was carrying drugs internally, which was later confirmed by x-ray. Mr Kyriakou subsequently produced a clingfilm-wrapped package which was found to contain cocaine. The potential street value of the cocaine seized was £12,800.
Paul Le Monnier, Senior Manager at JCIS said: “2023 was a busy year for our officers working at the borders and their hard work has prevented seizures such as this from reaching the streets of Jersey. Jersey Customs Immigration Service will continue to put every effort into protecting our Island."
Anyone with information on drug smuggling can report it anonymously via 0800 735 5555.