Kyle Badley, 38, of Birkenhead, was jailed for three years and two months for importing cannabis to the Isle of Man hidden in a secret compartment in a car.[1] Badley was stopped by police and customs officers at the Sea Terminal in Douglas after driving off the evening sailing from Liverpool on 22 April.[2] He told officers he was visiting his girlfriend, but officials found he had no links to the island.[1]

A sniffer dog showed interest in his black Mercedes, and officers arrested him and seized the vehicle.[2] A search found a hidden compartment under the driver’s seat, opened by a switch inside the car, holding 26 bags of cannabis sealed with yellow tape.[1] Officers found 26 vacuum-sealed packages holding 6,398 g of herbal cannabis, which the court valued at £127,098.[2]

He pleaded guilty to importing cannabis to the island and possessing the drug with intent to supply.[1] Prosecutors accepted he was unlikely to be high up in an organised gang because he had been used as a driver, but said he must have known there were drugs in the car.[1]

Deemster Graeme Cook called him “simply a mule” but said a deterrent sentence was needed.[1] The judge gave three years and two months for producing or bringing cannabis to the island and a concurrent two-year term for possession with intent to supply.[2] Badley was also banned from visiting the island for five years after his release.[1]

Energy FM’s account, which credits the BBC, reported that Badley was stopped by customs officers after driving off the ferry on 22 April and jailed for three years and two months.[3]