50 children as young as 12 involved in a wider £1.8m Jersey drug network

A major investigation uncovered 50 children in Jersey were groomed, bribed and threatened into receiving parcels concealing drugs hidden in toys and teddy bears.

Of the 50, seven children aged between 15 and 17 have been prosecuted for their part in a much wider UK drug network operating in the island which police have disrupted in what they describe as Jersey's most complex ever drugs operations.

It prompted a major safeguarding effort by the authorities, with the remaining 43 children who had been exploited supported by various agencies. 

Operation Java discovered the youngsters were receiving Class A and B drugs, stashed in toys including teddy bears, for a major UK network, stemming from the West Midlands, Lancashire and Greater London.

The investigation led to the sentencing this week of five young people, aged 19 and 20, for their involvement. One of the UK ring leaders was jailed last September.

READ: Five young people sentenced for Jersey drug network involving children

 Some of the drugs were hidden in teddies. Photos supplied by Jersey Police.

It is estimated, from investigations by Jersey Police and Jersey Customs and Immigration, that the network managed to smuggle a total of £1.8 million of Class A and B drugs into the island, with £183,317 worth of substances successfully intercepted and seized.

The two-year-long probe also revealed how the children were being rewarded with gifts or subjected to threats to make them comply with requests to receive the parcels.

If the package was intercepted by the authorities, threats of violence were made to the children to ensure the 'debt' was paid

Acting Investigator Kate Young, says they cannot put a number on the children involved in other drugs networks in Jersey, and is warning families to know the early warning signs of exploitation:

"It's prudent to make parents aware that it could be a problem, and it is definitely something that happens in Jersey, not just wider in the UK.

"Young people were being pressured to take days off school so that they could be available when parcels were due to be delivered.

"(Look for) changes in behaviour.  Do they have access to cash that they shouldn't ordinarily have?  Or are they asking for money because they are in debt?"

The message from Jersey Police is that 'anyone's young person can be involved' in networks like this.

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A conversation via text about receiving drug parcels in Jersey

Police used the UK government's guidance on Modern Slavery to decide who was going to be prosecuted.

"Modern Day Slavery and children being victims of this sort of activity does not give them immunity from prosecution because, if that were the case, they would be targeted even more by such criminal networks, so it certainly is not an immunity."

 Some of the drugs seized. Photo supplied by Jersey Police 

The mother of a teenager involved in a separate case, and who wants to remain anonymous, urges parents to act on any suspicion - no matter how tough it will get, and how many arguments are caused by questioning their children.

"We live in such a glorious island and take pride in bringing up our young children in such a wonderful place, we don’t want to believe this sort of things goes on here in Jersey, but it does and it can happen to anyone’s child no matter who you are or what your career or job is or the size of your home.

"When your young adult, who is still your child, goes to prison, your heart is broken, and sadly, you will serve the sentence with them as your life is never the same."

  Some of the drugs seized. Photo supplied by Jersey Police 

She says when your child is arrested, you go through all the emotions.

"Why didn’t I see this? How could I not have known? What could I have done differently?

"You start looking back on the previous weeks and months and piecing together behaviours.

"Simple things like they disappear, and when they come back, you ask, 'where have you been?' [and they reply] 'to the shop' yet they are empty-handed?

"As an older teenager, you would maybe expect them to stay out late, but that becomes a pattern, and when you question it, you hear 'I’m 18, I still get up and go to work, so what if I am out until 3:00 am'."

The mother says her son continued to do 'normal lad things', including playing football, gaming online and going to the beach.

However, when it came to phone calls or texting, he would always put it down immediately as she walked into the room.

"They tell you they have a new phone number and give a variety of reasons for that.

"When you question them, you get 'it’s not that deep', and you warn them - if you are involved with drugs, you need to stop now - you will get in deeper, get arrested, go to prison.

"You warn them even though you pray you are being paranoid. But they will do it anyway and sadly learn the hard way."

Islanders can contact Jersey Police, CrimeStoppers, YES, Jersey Youth Service, Childline and Kooth if they have any concerns.