Dewi Mitchell, a 22-year-old from Ebbw Vale in Wales, was jailed for three years and four months for bringing cannabis and cocaine to the Isle of Man.[1] He was sentenced at the Court of General Gaol Delivery at Douglas Courthouse after admitting importing the drugs on 28 June.[2] He had pleaded guilty to two counts of importing the drugs and two counts of possession.[2] The court banned him from visiting the island for five years after his release from prison.[1]
Mitchell arrived on the Ben-my-Chree ferry from Heysham shortly after 06:00 BST on 28 June, the first ferry after Covid border restrictions were eased, planning to stay for three days of “chill time”.[1] He arrived alone with his Volkswagen Golf and said he had no links to the island.[2] Police arrested him at the Sea Terminal in Douglas in an operation the local paper named Operation Strongbox.[2] Officers became suspicious of a Pringles tube in the boot containing Rizla cigarette papers, which he said he believed were unavailable on the island.[2]
A thorough search at police headquarters found a heat-sealed package under the spare wheel holding £160 of cocaine and £276 of cannabis.[2] The search also found cannabis valued at £276, the only cannabis figure recorded.[2] Mitchell told police he brought the drugs himself because he feared the quality on the island would be lower and the price higher than in the United Kingdom.[2] Prosecutors accepted that the amounts were relatively small and that he had brought the drugs for personal use, not to supply anyone else.[1]
Deemster Graeme Cook said the way the drugs were concealed showed Mitchell knew they were illegal and had chosen to import them anyway.[1] He told Mitchell: “It was your choice to make.”[1] An appeal found the 40-month term manifestly excessive and cut it to six months, while upholding the five-year ban.[3] Deemsters Alastair Montgomerie and Alan Gough said the case involved a “very small quantity of drugs” for personal use, a powerful mitigating factor warranting a significant reduction.[3]