A 20-year-old man has been jailed for seven months for attempting to bring cannabis worth £2,526 to the island.
Steven Brian James Murphy, of Derby Road in Douglas, pleaded guilty in court to attempting to possess cannabis with intent to supply and production of the drug to the island.
The court heard that the drugs had been sent to Murphy by post, hidden in a soft toy on January 12.
Cannabis weighing 126.3 grams with a street value of £2,526 was found.
Defending Murphy in court, advocate James Robinson said: ‘The amount is at the bottom end of the scale.
‘It is a fairly straightforward case. A parcel was intercepted through the postal system.
‘Unfortunately this method is becoming more and more common but Mr Murphy wasn’t involved in the arrangement of the cannabis coming to the island.
‘He became a classic target for a postal address for those further up the chain.
‘The sort we never see in the courts as they use young men as a shield such as my client.
‘Unfortunately he has fallen into being involved. He had an admitted cannabis habit before this.
‘He was funding it himself. Due to an injury, he gave up employment.
‘He was perhaps under the naive impression that he wouldn’t get caught.
‘He has learned his lesson the hard way.
Deputy High Bailiff Jayne Hughes said, while passing sentence: ‘It’s not that low level really, he has provided an address, then admitted he was going to supply the vast majority of the drug to the island.
‘I accept in terms of scale, you were at the bottom end. A middle man being used by those further up the chain.
‘You were receiving £200 as a result of putting your future on the line.’
Mrs Hughes said that it was an aggravating factor that the drugs were sent hidden in a soft toy.
She said: ‘It could have come into the possession of anyone. The quantity, 126.3 grams, worth £2,526 is not insignificant.
‘The probation report has recommended community service but these offences are too serious to be dealt with in that way.
‘A message has to go out that it is not appropriate to bring drugs to the island, and those that do, can expect an immediate custodial sentence.
‘I have considered whether there are grounds to suspend the sentence and I find there are not sufficient grounds.
Murphy was sentenced to four months custody for production of drugs to the island and three months for attempting to possess drugs with intent to supply, to run consecutively.