Man Jailed After Being Caught With £400,000 in Cannabis Amid Rising Concerns Over Jersey’s Black Market

57-Year-Old Sentenced to Four and a Half Years for Supplying Cannabis Resin to Islanders, Including a Medicinal User With a Delayed Prescription

A 57-year-old man has been sentenced to four and a half years in prison after being convicted of possessing over £400,000 worth of cannabis resin with intent to supply. The conviction comes at a time of heightened concern over the emergence of a black market linked to Jersey’s medicinal cannabis system.

Alan Leigh was arrested and charged following a significant drugs seizure in Trinity earlier this year. The Superior Number of the Royal Court, which convenes only for the most serious criminal cases – heard that Leigh had hidden more than 15 kilograms of cannabis resin inside two camping bags at a rented storage unit. A further 373 grams were found inside his Ford Transit van, alongside over £10,000 in cash believed to be proceeds of drug dealing.

The case highlighted not only the scale of illegal cannabis distribution on the island but also the growing concern among health authorities that delays, overprescribing, and poor oversight in the medicinal cannabis system are enabling illicit activity.

Discovery at a Storage Facility Sparks Major Drug Bust

The court was told that Leigh’s illicit operation began to unravel on 12 February, when a staff member at the storage facility discovered the drugs while preparing to clean the unit. Authorities were alerted, and police quickly installed four hidden surveillance cameras within the space.

Later that same day, Leigh was captured on video entering the unit, appearing visibly distressed upon discovering the drugs were missing. He was arrested soon after, and a subsequent search of his van revealed additional cannabis and a substantial amount of cash.

The cannabis resin recovered from the storage unit and the vehicle had an estimated street value of between £252,000 and £420,000, based on police analysis and expert valuation.

Drug Supply Included Medicinal Cannabis Users Left in Limbo by Delays in Prescriptions

Further investigation into Leigh’s phone messages revealed that he had been supplying cannabis not only to recreational users but also to at least one individual who was prescribed medicinal cannabis but had experienced delays in accessing their treatment. This finding raised serious questions about the reliability of Jersey’s medicinal cannabis system and its unintended consequences.

While medicinal cannabis is legal and regulated on the island, increasing numbers of users and healthcare professionals have voiced concerns about disruptions in access, unclear prescribing standards, and a lack of robust regulation. These gaps appear to have created an opportunity for illegal suppliers like Leigh to target vulnerable patients in need of continuous medication.

Health Officials Warn of Unsafe Prescriptions and a Black Market Fuelled by Regulation Gaps

In the weeks leading up to Leigh’s trial, senior officials at Jersey’s Health Department expressed alarm over the increasing volume of cannabis prescriptions being issued, particularly for patients with known serious mental health conditions.

Mental Health Director Andy Weir told a parliamentary health panel that the island was seeing a notable rise in psychiatric admissions linked to the overuse or misuse of prescribed cannabis. He highlighted a worrying trend of large-quantity prescriptions being issued without adequate oversight, stating that such practices were contributing to a growing black market for prescription drugs.

Officials now believe that the weaknesses in the system are enabling illegal distribution channels to thrive, with some medicinal products being sold or diverted to unregulated markets. As a response, the department is moving toward banning all forms of advertising for prescription medication, including the large cannabis ads currently displayed in public areas such as the airport.

Leigh Tried to Justify His Involvement Using Conflicting Stories and Unverified Claims

During interviews with police and in court, Leigh offered a range of explanations for his involvement in drug distribution. Initially, he claimed that he was coerced into storing and moving the drugs by a loan shark. He then said that he needed to raise money to pay for an ADHD diagnosis for his child, later changing his story to say the money was for a private MRI scan for a back injury.

The court, however, found no consistent or credible evidence to support these claims. Crown Advocate Emma Hollywood, prosecuting, presented evidence from Leigh’s phone that clearly showed ongoing communications related to the sale of cannabis, including coordination with multiple buyers and arrangements for supply.

Leigh initially pleaded not guilty in the Magistrate’s Court on 14 February, but changed his plea and admitted to charges of possession of controlled drugs with intent to supply and possession of criminal property when brought before the Royal Court.

Defence Argues for Leniency Citing Personal Struggles and Time Served Constructively

Leigh, who has no prior drug-related convictions but a minor history of motoring and shoplifting offenses from decades ago, was represented by Advocate Julia-Anne Dix. In her defence submission, she described him as a devoted father and grandfather who had lost his business during the Covid-19 pandemic and had struggled to regain financial stability.

She noted that Leigh was not leading a lavish lifestyle and that he had been using his time in custody constructively by teaching guitar, mentoring younger inmates, and helping with the prison library. Based on these factors, Advocate Dix argued for a reduced sentence of four years and two months.

However, the Royal Court ultimately imposed a custodial sentence of four and a half years. Commissioner Alan Binnington, presiding over the case, described Leigh as a “high-level trader within the drug dealing community,” though he acknowledged there was no direct evidence to suggest a broader criminal lifestyle.

Police Reaffirm Commitment to Targeting High-Level Drug Offenders

Following the sentencing, the States Police Drug Squad reiterated their stance on tackling drug-related crime. Investigators said cases like Leigh’s illustrate the seriousness with which the island’s law enforcement agencies treat high-level drug trafficking, especially when it exploits vulnerabilities in the community, such as those created by lapses in medicinal cannabis access.

They emphasized the need for a multi-agency approach to close loopholes in both the healthcare system and the criminal justice framework that are currently being exploited by drug dealers.

Medicinal Cannabis Advertising to Be Banned as Part of a Wider Crackdown

In parallel with the legal proceedings, Jersey’s Health Department is pressing ahead with plans to ban the advertisement of all prescribed medicines, including cannabis products. This regulatory move is part of a broader campaign to address the growing influence of commercial interests within the island’s medicinal cannabis sector and to reduce misleading or aggressive promotion of prescription drugs.

Health officials say the measure will help refocus the medicinal cannabis system on patient care and medical necessity, rather than market-driven demand and commercial marketing tactics that blur the lines between health products and recreational consumption.

A Case That Highlights the Fragile Balance Between Medical Access and Drug Control

The case of Alan Leigh sheds light on a complex and increasingly contentious issue for Jersey: how to balance the legitimate medical use of cannabis with the need to regulate and prevent its abuse. As more jurisdictions around the world grapple with integrating cannabis into healthcare systems, Jersey’s experience underscores the importance of strong oversight, ethical prescribing practices, and vigilance against exploitation.

With the sentencing now concluded and regulatory reforms on the horizon, authorities will be closely watching how the island navigates its evolving relationship with medicinal cannabis—and whether it can clamp down on the black market emerging in its shadow.