Jersey children forced to receive parcels of drugs hidden in toys
May 1, 2025
Drugs hidden inside teddies sent to child mules
States of Jersey PoliceChildren as young as 12 were threatened and manipulated to help distribute drugs across Jersey, the island’s Royal Court heard.
The court was told the children were part of a network that sent £1.8m worth of drugs hidden inside teddies and other toys in the post.
Four people have been sentenced to youth detention for importing and supplying drugs, including cannabis and MDMA, to Jersey from the UK.
Elijah McManus, 20, received a three-year sentence, Joseph Barratt, 20, two years and six months, Monica Nobrega, 20, two years and Rory Ribeiro, 19, was given two years.
A fifth defendant, 20-year-old Malibu Brennan, was sentenced to 100 hours of community service for possession of criminal property.
States of Jersey PoliceThe court heard the drugs were hidden inside cuddly toys such as teddy bears and a karaoke speaker and were sent to the island between January and July 2023.
The children were bribed with rewards but also threatened if they stopped co-operating.
Passing sentence, Deputy Bailiff Robert MacRea described the drug ring as a sophisticated operation involved in the importation and distribution of Class A and B drugs.
The prosecution follows Operation Java, a joint police and drugs investigation, which also led to the conviction of 32 year-old Mohammed Babrul Hussain, from Birmingham, in Jersey last year.
Hussain was sentenced by the Royal Court to seven years and six months in prison after pleading guilty to offences linked to the importation of MDMA and cannabis into Jersey via the post.
‘Threats of violence’
States of Jersey Police said Hussain had links to the island which he used to ensnare children and young people into his drug distribution network.
Acting Insp Kate Young said the tactics used to control the children ranged from gifts to threats.
“There was initially offers of reward,” she said. “It could be low value items, free amounts of drugs or it could be high value items such as designer clothing etc.
“That manipulation then increased to threats of violence as they became more involved.”
“The young people that were used in this operation were basically used as mules,” she added.
Acting Insp Young said police worked with a range of on-island organisations, including the Customs and Immigration Service, the Youth Service, Education and the Children and the Young People, Education and Skills Department (CYPES) which were able to establish a link between parcels coming into Jersey through the post and delivery to young people.
The different groups involved were able to use the information they gathered to identify operations in the West Midlands, Lancashire and London were responsible for sending the packages to Jersey.
Rolex watches seized
She said drugs worth between £128,000 and £183,000 were seized, including cannabis, cannabis resin, cocaine, ketamine and MDMA.
Other items seized included £40,000 in cash and two Rolex watches valued at £30,000.
Acting Insp Young said social media apps including Snap Chat and Telegram channels were used by the network.
“I think what this case highlighted is how easy it can be and the fact that it is so easy means that any young person is at risk,” she said.
The police said money from the sale of drugs was deposited in Jersey banks to be paid into UK bank accounts. Cash was also used to buy high value items including Rolex watches that could then be easily taken off island.
‘Notice the signs’
Acting Insp Young said: “This can happen to anyone’s young person.
“These were not young people that we dealt with every day.”
She said she wanted parents to “recognise some of the early signs” that children could be being manipulated by drug gangs:
- A drop in school attendance
- New phone or more than one phone
- Leaving the house late at night
- Money that they cannot explain
- New clothes
- High value items
- Injuries that they cannot explain
She said 43 children in Jersey were being protected by the police, rather than prosecuted, to stop them from being exploited further.
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