Police remain 'fully committed' to disrupting organised crime groups

Constabulary welcomes sentencings handed down in drug case

Police say they remain ‘fully committed’ to tackling organised criminality and disrupting groups which operate between the North West and the Island.

The Isle of Man Constabulary has welcomed the sentencings handed down this week to five men involved in importing more than £300,000 of cannabis in 2023.

John Skillen, Jordan Corkill, Ashley Harrison and Jamie Smith were jailed at Douglas Courthouse; Jordan Halligan-Bunce received a suspended sentence.

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The men were targeted as part of Operation Vineyard.

At 9.45pm on 17 November 2023 the ‘Boy Shane’ fishing vessel was observed returning from Whitehaven Port to Battery Pier in Douglas.

The boat’s owner Skillen had arrived to meet it in his vehicle and was observed collecting a holdall from Corkill.

When searched it was found to contain 15.5kg of cannabis and 98 cannabis vapes.

Prior to the ‘Boy Shane’ arriving a rigid-hulled inflatable boat, owned by Harrison and piloted by Halligan-Bunce, had been launched from Peel Breakwater.

Police say it had been enroute to collect the drugs but became damaged on the way leading the fishing vessel to return to Battery Pier with the items onboard. 

Speaking after the sentencings Detective Inspector Jamie Tomlinson from the Serious and Organised Crime Unit said: “As can be seen from the facts of this case this was a very well-planned criminal enterprise utilising vessels at sea.

"It shows the lengths our criminals are willing to go to in order to bring drugs into our Island and to evade capture. 

“I am pleased to say that yet again the courts have seen fit to impose sentences which reflect the seriousness, planning and sophistication of this importation.

“This is further significant disruption to organised crime groups operating between the North West and the Isle of Man which has already seen heroin and cocaine seized, along with arrests and lengthy jail terms.

“The constabulary remains fully committed to tackling this organised criminality.”

Operation Vineyard has also seen David Alsop, Justin Fayle and Michael Ball jailed previously.