Garry Dentith, 41, described by the court as playing a “leading role” in an organised crime group selling cannabis on the Isle of Man, was jailed for seven years and three months.[1] Dentith, of Princes Street in Douglas, pleaded guilty at Douglas Courthouse to five counts of money laundering, being concerned in the importation of cannabis, and being concerned in its supply.[1] Sam Leigh, 31, of Brown Close in Barnsley, admitted bringing the cannabis to the island and was jailed for 32 months.[1] Andrew McGill, 56, of Brunswick Road in Douglas, admitted possessing cannabis and being concerned in its supply and was jailed for 30 months.[1]

Dentith was arrested after police raided his flat in October, and officers found £12,900 in cash in an attic room along with plastic bags with cash amounts written on them.[1] McGill was arrested when police raided his home on Brunswick Road in Douglas the same day and found the cannabis hidden in the eaves of his attic.[1] Officers recovered 8.5 kilograms of cannabis from McGill’s home along with scales, tick lists and vacuum packaging material.[2] McGill admitted possessing 8.5 kg of cannabis with a street value of £171,270 with intent to supply, the court heard.[3] Leigh was stopped at Douglas’s Sea Terminal on 25 September 2022 as he prepared to sail to Liverpool, and a search of his vehicle found almost £50,000 hidden under a passenger seat along with an empty hide.[2] The BBC reported that Leigh had brought the cannabis to the island in a hidden compartment in a car.[1]

McGill’s advocate told the court he was a “gamer living a hermit lifestyle” who had received £300 for his part in the operation.[2] Deemster Graeme Cook told Dentith he had played a leading role and must, in the judge’s judgement, have strong connections with organised crime in Liverpool.[2] Dentith’s advocate, Paul Rodgers, argued that the leading role in the operation belonged to the dealer in England.[3] The three had been investigated as part of Operation Artemis, a police operation that saw officers arrest people at the Sea Terminal in 2022.[2][4] Dentith pleaded guilty to five money-laundering counts concerning £192,855 of criminal proceeds.[3]