DRUG RAID LINKED TO KINGSTON AIRPORT; CASH, CARS SEIZED
Narcotics police arrested two men and seized cocaine valued at more than $18 million in Ocho Rios, St Ann, on Thursday, February 8.
Police said the Ocho Rios raid was part of a coordinated operation that led, on the same day, to the seizure of ganja worth half a million dollars, cash of more than $1.2 million, and the arrest of two men at the Norman Manley Airport, Kingston.
In the Ocho Rios bust, reports are that at about 1:00 p.m., on Thursday, operatives from the Narcotics Division conducted an intelligence-led operation at a popular plaza in the resort town where they intercepted and searched two motor vehicles.
The search yielded 3.8 kilograms (or over eight pounds) of cocaine concealed in food packages in one of the vehicles. The estimated street value of the illicit drug is J$18 million.
J$118,000 in cash was also seized. The drivers of the two motor vehicles were taken into custody and the vehicles seized.
Shortly after, about 3:00 p.m., a joint operation was conducted with members of the Narcotics Division and Jamaica Customs Contraband Enforcement Team on the compound of the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston.
During the operation, a motor vehicle was searched, and over fifty-five pounds of ganja with an estimated street value of J$540 000, was found concealed in a suitcase in the trunk of the motorcar. Lawmen seized J$1.2 million which was also found in the car. Subsequently, four airport ramp attendants were arrested; two have been released following investigative leads.
The identities of the four men in custody are being withheld as the investigation progresses.
