'Significant disruption' to drug supply networks but fewer OCGs targeted

28% reduction in violent crime linked to drugs

Police on the Island disrupted fewer organised crime groups over the last 12 months.

Data, published in the Chief Constable’s Annual Report, shows there were 85 targeted between 1 April 2025 and 31 March 2026.

It’s a drop from 239 in the previous year.  

However the Isle of Man Constabulary says the quality and impact of the disruption remained ‘high’ with a focus on drug supply, money laundering and related violent offending.

Over the last 12 months officers continued to prioritise tackling serious and organised crime despite ‘sustained operational pressures’ that constrained proactive and covert activity.

This was due to officers from the Serious and Organised Crime Unit being temporarily reassigned to support other critical incidents.

In the reporting period SOCU officers undertook 10 proactive covert operations targeting OCGs who operate on, and impact, the Island.

These were designed to disrupt ‘entrenched’ criminal networks, remove facilitators and restrict access to criminal finances.

Activity was deliberately targeted towards ‘high harm’ offenders and those posing the greatest risk to the Island.

This approach, the constabulary says, delivered ‘significant disruption’ to drug supply networks and associated money laundering activity.

Over the year there was a 28 percent reduction in violent crime linked to drugs.

This, police say, was supported by major cross border investigations, record levels of drug seizures and sustained use of asset recovery and covert investigative tactics.

Around 33 percent of the Isle of Man’s prison population has been assessed as having links to organised crime groups; it’s a significantly higher proportion than in most UK prisons.

Eleven UK nationals were identified as being directly linked to drug supply on the Island over the 12-month period; several received substantial custodial sentences.

The chief constable says there was ‘unprecedented’ seizures of controlled drugs including a record cocaine haul which had a street value of more than £1 million.

The Isle of Man Constabulary says drug demand on the Island continues to centre on cocaine, ketamine and cannabis.

You can read the full Chief Constable's Annual Report, which will go to Tynwald in July, by clicking HERE.