Guernsey Legal Resources

    Generally, the importation of a “very small” quantity of drugs for personal use will be punished in the same way as a possession offence; a claim that a larger (but still “relatively small”) quantity, which nonetheless falls within the lower bands set out in Richards, was imported solely for personal use will not usually result in a lighter sentence compared with similar offences not involving such a claim, since the importation of any larger amount might add to the stock of drugs available in Guernsey as there would be a risk of the drugs falling into other hands (Richards v. Law Officers, C.A., Case Nos. 267, 270, 273, 275–277, April 18th, 2002, unreported, followed). Although addiction cannot be a mitigating factor in sentencing, it may support a conclusion that the imported drug was intended for personal use only.