TWO Liverpool men who tried to flood Jersey's thriving nightclub scene with killer dance drug ecstasy have been jailed. They were caught trying to smuggle thousands of the pills on to the island along with a stash of cannabis. Richard Kendrick, 36, was caught bringing in the drugs after hiding them in the bumper of a Ford Mondeo car. Customs officers stopped him and at Jersey crown court he was jailed for a total of seven years. Kevin Mooney, 29, was jailed for eight years for his part in the drug importation operation. Jersey deputy chief customs officer Steven Le Marquand said they were the latest in a long line of Liverpool villains who were involved in drug smuggling on to the island. He said: "In the past few years we have arrested, charged and secured convictions of drug offences against more than 20 people with Merseyside connections. "They have been targeting the island and these latest two jail terms reflect how seriously we are taking the matter. "There is a strong nightclub scene in Jersey and these pills were destined to be sold in that community. "We will not tolerate people trying to set up a drug dealing network on Jersey and will hit them hard." During the drug dealing investigation Kendrick was identified as the man who was responsible for the safe transportation of the drugs from Weymouth to Jersey. Mooney, who has lived on the island for several years after moving there from Liverpool, was part of the overall organising team. He worked in Jersey as a builder and posed as a legitimate businessman while being part of the smuggling operation. Mr Le Marquand said: "They had built up quite a team which these two men were part of but we always try and stay one step ahead of the game. "Undercover work is key to convictions such as this." mattslater@liverpoolecho.co.uk | 
News RSS Feed