A Jersey expat is beginning a three year and nine month prison sentence for attempting to smuggle cocaine and cannabis into the island.

Tony Spencer (49) was stopped by Customs and Immigration officers off the ferry from St Malo last April.

He told them he had moved from Jersey to a town just outside of Malaga to open a butcher's shops, but was looking to return to the island. 

A search of his Jersey-registered vehicle revealed a 'commercial vacuum heat-sealing machine' which was found to contain 290 grams of cocaine and nine kilos of cannabis.

Seized drug haul in commercial vacuum heat-sealing machine'

The haul had an estimated street value of £350,000.

The investigation also revealed Spencer's electronic devices containing internet searches relating to 'drug sentences in Jersey' and 'ways to conceal drugs in cars'. 

Spencer initially provided a not-guilty plea, which he changed a month later. 

Seized drug haul laid out on a table

Speaking after Jersey's Royal Court jailed Spencer for three years and nine months, JCIS Senior Manager Paul Le Monnier said:

"Today's sentence reflects the seriousness of this attempted importation.

"It also shows the high level of skill and vigilance our officers have in detecting commercial quantities of controlled drugs and dealing with those responsible."