Police vow to bring UK criminals to justice

Police on the Isle of Man have warned they will not hesitate to arrest UK offenders after a drugs trafficker was jailed for bringing cannabis to the island in a fishing boat.

Liam Dunne, 39, of Liverpool, was jailed for 12 years this week for his part in a plot to import cannabis with an estimated street value of more than £300,000 and 98 vapes laced with THC in 2023.

Douglas Courthouse heard he also helped to bring heroin to the island, concealed in silicon tubes which were sent through the post.

Det Insp Jamie Tomlinson said: "Should detailed and complex drug investigations lead us to key UK offenders, we will not hesitate to secure arrest warrants, work alongside UK law enforcement partners, and bring those individuals to the island to face justice."

He said Dunne played a "key role" in the Merseyside organised crime group supplying drugs into the island.

He added it was "individuals like Dunne who must be dealt with robustly, otherwise they will continue to exploit our island and profit at the expense of our community."

Douglas Courthouse heard Dunne had fled the UK to Spain in late 2024 to evade arrest, but returned to the UK in August 2025 and was brought to the Isle of Man.

Police said he was a "pivotal link" within the supply chain responsible for trafficking substantial quantities of Class A and Class B drugs onto the island throughout 2023.

The court heard he had received £83,000 in bank transfers from Manx residents in exchange.

He pleaded guilty to being concerned in importing heroin, cannabis, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and participating in a criminal organisation.

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