Drug dealer helped launder £36k in criminal cash

A drug dealer who had cannabis with a street value of £27,000 stashed in a holdall bag in his home has been jailed.

Fletcher Nelson also helped to move more than £36,000 of criminal cash off the Isle of Man over a 16-month period.

Douglas Courthouse heard the drugs were found after Nelson was arrested for money laundering as part of a police operation targeting organised crime groups.

The court heard the 24-year-old had "not asked questions" about the money, but had "taken the risk" with the intention of benefiting financially.

He was sentenced to two years and one month.

Nelson's bank account statements had shown 25 credits totalling £36,822 between April 2022 and August 2023, despite him having no income and receiving no benefits, the court was told.

During the period £36,210 was transferred out to 23 different accounts using different reference terms, including car, puppy, holiday and tickets.

Several of the accounts the transfers were sent to also had links to those involved in drug dealing.

Officers found the blue holdall containing 3lb (1.4kg) of cannabis in packages at Nelson's home in Snugborough Avenue in Union Mills, Braddan, when they arrested him on 24 March.

Although he told officers the drugs were for personal use, messages on his mobile phone showed evidence of dealing.

Nelson pleaded guilty to two counts of money laundering and possession of cannabis with intent to supply.

Nelson's defence advocate said he had a "significant drug debt of over £2,000", and the difference between the money going in and out of his account meant the "actual benefit was clearly very small".

"Once he got himself into that position he found it difficult to get out," he added.

Prosecutors conceded he was "not sitting at the top of the tree" in the crime groups but Deemster Graeme Cook said: "We can see what this is all about, you were trying to make money out of drug activity."

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