Fabio André Martins (23) will also be deported to his home in Madeira after he has served his sentence.
Martins was stopped at the Harbour on Sunday 19 March after returning from a short driving holiday in Portugal.
Also in the car was his girlfriend, Helia Filipa Da Silva.
Another officer stopped a second car, carrying Martins’ father Joao Martins.
He had been to France and met his son in St Malo.
A search of Fabio Martins’ car proved negative, but in his father’s car a pack of heroin was discovered underneath the rear seat.
Fabio Martins claimed this was his and that he had hidden it there when he met his father in St Malo as they were both sailing back to Jersey on the same ferry.
Crown Advocate Conrad Yates told the Royal Court that on being questioned about the heroin, Fabio Martins said: ‘I put it there.
My father knows nothing.’ He added that the 36.37 grams of class A drugs had a street value of £36,350.
Advocate Yates added: ‘The defendant confirmed that the heroin had cost him 1,700 euros.
He said that he had used his own money to buy heroin for his own use.
‘When asked how much heroin he used, the defendant stated that he and Da Silva might share roughly half a gram of heroin a day, although sometimes they might use half a gram each.
When asked about how he funded his habit, the defendant replied that sometimes he would work.’ It was later revealed that Martins had not worked for eight months.
The Crown moved for a sentence of four and half years and that Martins should be recommended for deportation after completing his sentence.
Advocate Michael Haynes, defending, said that his client’s life took a spiral downwards after he split up with his long-term girlfriend and when his grandfather fell seriously ill.
‘These two events in 2005 had an emotional effect on this young man,’ he said.
‘And to bury his emotions he was introduced into heroin.’ Advocate Haynes went on to explain that since being in custody awaiting sentence Martins had successfully completed a drugs detoxification programme.’ Delivering the court’s sentence, the Bailiff, Sir Philip Bailhache, expressed concerns about the quantity of drugs which were said to be for personal use.
He said: ‘When a person imports such a quantity of heroin there’s always a risk that some of it will find its way on to the streets, to the detriment of the Island.’ Speaking about Martins’ history, he added: ‘It’s sad that a young man should have become addicted to heroin and have committed a series of offences of this kind.
To live in Jersey is a privilege and if that privilege is abused then it is likely to be withdrawn.’ Sir Philip was sitting with Jurats Bullen, Le Breton, Georgelin, Clapham, King and Le Cornu.
