Four men have been jailed for their part in a drug smuggling operation which saw cannabis brought to the island on a fishing boat.
The Boy Shane was used to import 15.5kg of cannabis, with an estimated street value of £310,000 and 98 cannabis vapes with, a street value of £3,000, which was all seized at the harbour.
Jamie Smith, who planned and organised the operation, was sentenced by Deemster Bernard Richmond KC, along with John Skillen, Jordan Corkill, Ashley Harrison and Jordan Halligan-Bunce.
Smith was jailed for five years, Skillen for three years and nine months, Corkill for three years and six months and Harrison for three years and 11 months.
Halligan-Bunce received a sentence of 21 months, suspended for two years.
Seizure
On Friday November 17 2023, officers from the Serious & Organised Crime Unit were involved in Operation Vineyard, related to the fishing vessel ‘Boy Shayne’ and its return from Whitehaven Port where it had docked earlier that afternoon.
At approximately 9:45pm that day, the boat sailed into Douglas’ outer harbour and moored alongside Battery Pier. Waiting nearby was the boat’s owner, Skillen, who had arrived in his vehicle.
A member of the crew was watched carrying what appeared to be a very heavy holdall on his back, up a set of ladders, onto Battery Pier, which was then loaded into Skillen’s car.
The men involved were then stopped and detained by officers.
Ribbing It
Shortly prior to the arrests, it became apparent that further activity had been taking place at sea. A rigid-hulled inflatable boat owned by Ashley Harrison and piloted by Jordan Bunce had been launched from Peel Breakwater and whilst it had been navigating the south of the island’s coast, it had been damaged.
The RHIB had been destined to meet ‘Boy Shayne’ out at sea in order to collect the drugs located on board. Both Harrison and Bunce were also subsequently arrested.
Well Planned
Detective Inspector Jamie Tomlinson from the Serious & Organised Crime Unit said: “As can be seen from the facts of this case, this was a very well-planned criminal enterprise utilising vessels at sea and it shows the lengths our criminals are willing to go to in order to bring drugs into our island and to evade capture.
“I am pleased to say that yet again the Courts have seen fit to impose sentences which reflect the seriousness, planning and sophistication of this importation.
“This is further significant disruption to Organised Crime Groups operating between the North West and the Isle of Man, which has already seen heroin and cocaine seized, along with arrests and lengthy jail terms.
“The Constabulary remains fully committed to tackling this organised criminality.”
A fifth man has pleaded guilty to the offences, but is still before the court for other matters and can’t be named until the conclusion of that case.
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