ECSTASY tablets are being sold in the UK for as little as 50 pence each while its street value in Jersey remains between £10 and £12.

And while an ounce of cannabis can be sold for around £160 in Jersey, it costs as little as £20 in Cardiff.

The high cost of illegal drugs is being attributed to Islanders having a greater disposable income and there being a high concentration of youngsters in Jersey.

A national survey released this week by Drugscope has revealed that Portsmouth has the lowest street value for ecstasy at 50p a tablet, while Jersey remains one of the most expensive.

A gram of heroin can be bought in Sheffield for £25 while in Jersey the price remains £200 and a gram of cocaine costs £80 in the Island, compared to £25 in Middlesbrough.

Head of the Drugs Squad Det insp Alan Aubert said: ‘There are a few reasons why the price is so high in Jersey.

There is more risk involved, dealers have to pay for couriers to bring the drugs over, people have more money to spend over here and sometimes there is little alternative.’