Man who sold jars of cannabis ‘sweets’ jailed
BY BORDER
A ROLEXWEARING carpet fitter who ran a sophisticated online business selling jars of cannabis sweets and chews, as well as pre-rolled cigarettes, has been jailed.
Steven Munsey, 32, imported the “potent’ edible cannabis from California but was caught after Border Force officials intercepted two of his parcels, which were labelled “carpet samples” in February 2020.
They contained edible cannabis products, hidden in clothing.
Munsey called his business “Ghostbudders” and sold the goods through a page on Instagram.
In June 2020, police raided Munsey’s Redcar home, and other addresses he gave for the parcels to be posted to.
They found he’d just paid £17,000 in cash for a Volkswagen Transporter van parked outside, in the glove compartment of which was a Rolex watch. He also had £6,000 in cash lying around in his home.
Teesside Crown Court heard Munsey – who now runs a property maintenance business – visited California and later transferred £27,000 in Bitcoin to an American business in exchange for the cannabis products.
Police also found cash sums were deposited into his account, with one customer paying £34,000.
There were further deposits made throughout 2020, of £7,400, £5,000 and £7,000. Police seized drugs from the packages and from Munsey’s former flat on Station Road in Redcar, valued in excess of £50,000.
Prosecutor Robin Patton told the court the illegal business came to light after Border Force and the National Crime Agency intercepted a parcel addressed to him in February 2020. It contained .25KG of herbal cannabis,
FROM THE US INTERCEPTED
POLICE
sent from California. Other packages were sent to an address on Brimham Court in Redcar, and to homes in Hartlepool addressed to two sisters. They were intercepted and Border Force sent decoy packages.
Munsey was arrested in June 2020 and released on bail, but he continued trading, using an Instagram selling page to advertise the products, which are legal in America.
His business accepted different payment methods, including Bitcoin and bank transfers.
After initially denying the charges, Munsey pleaded guilty to two counts of importing cannabis products to evade duty, possession of cannabis with intent to supply, possession of class A, B and two counts of class C drugs, from February to June 2020.
Alex Menary, mitigating, said Munsey has since overcome his cannabis addiction and hasn’t offended in the three years since his business was uncovered. Mr Menary said his client was genuinely working as a carpet fitter throughout his offending in 2020 and that the business wasn’t “a front” for his edible cannabis enterprise.
Recorder Geraldine Kelly told Munsey that he “had had a big warning when you were arrested, but it highlights your arrogance that you continued your enterprise.”
Munsey, now of Geneva Road in Darlington, was jailed for two years and four months.