DRUG traffickers were sentenced to a total of 106 years and two months last year. The Royal Court imposed sentences ranging from 18 months to 13 years and nine months on 19 offenders.

Six were charged with Class A trafficking offences, 10 with Class B and three with a combination of both.

Assets seized as the proceeds of drug trafficking totalled £96,286, along with six vehicles and one vessel.

With the exception of post, all drugs seized on import had arrived by sea, via pleasure craft or ferry.

Another 23 people were charged with less-serious drug-related offences and appeared in the Magistrate’s Court, with 21 being fined between £250 and £600 and the rest being bound over to leave the island.

During the year, a total of 28 people faced trafficking charges, with the 17 carried forward to this year all involved with Class A drugs.

There were four cases of heroin being concealed internally and four of vehicles carrying bulk cannabis resin.

‘The use of internal concealment for importing controlled drugs presents considerable health risks to both the individual concerned as well as the officers involved and the nature of the task cannot be underestimated,’ said Customs chief officer Rob Prow.

Since January 2000, 28 people have been charged with importing controlled drugs by this method – 60% were carrying heroin.

In 2005 a poster campaign which asked ‘Ever Had a Bum Deal?’ was mounted in pubs and clubs and it led to an increase in calls to the confidential 0800

318 318 drugs freephone line.