CLOSE to 2,500 persons have been arrested locally for possession and trafficking of cocaine, in the last three years.The figures were recently released by the National Council on Drug Abuse in its newsletter, INFOSOM, and were also confirmed by the Constabulary Communication Network (CCN).
The reports indicate a 30 per cent increase in the number of arrests made for the period, with the majority of the persons - 1,950 - being Jamaicans while 543 or only 22 per cent were foreigners.
The busiest year for trafficking cocaine according to NCDA statistics was 2000-2001 which saw a massive 78 per cent increase in the quantity of cocaine seized in the island.
However, figures for the first quarter of this year have also seen a steady flow of cocaine trying to get through the security system with highs in the months of January (48.58 kg) and April (42.07 kg.). The total amount of cocaine seized for the four-month period January to April 2002, stands at 152.32 kilograms.
But the trend of heavy drug trafficking may soon be broken following increased measures by the Government to limit the activity of drug couriers.
The Ionscan Itemiser Contraband Detraction System installed at Sangster International last week is already said to be making serious dents in the operations of drug smugglers as according to CCN reports, as some 14 persons were arrested for trafficking and possession on the first day of its installation at the island's major airport.
According to Superintendent of Police in the Narcotics division, Gladstone Wright, the system has proved to be very useful.
"Yes, it has, because before (the installation), when persons were even suspected at the airports we would not have had a scientific way of determining whether they had come in contact with drugs or explosives as this equipment now does."
He revealed that 8,439 persons were arrested for drug trafficking in 2000 and 6,221 in 2001. They were trying to smuggle either ganja, cocaine, hash oil, Ecstasy tablets or crack cocaine from the island.
