By Glenroy Sinclair, Staff ReporterANOTHER BIG shipment of cocaine coming out of Colombia was intercepted by narcotics police during a multi-agency operation in Trelawny, Wednesday evening.
Eight persons five Jamaicans and three Colombian nationals have been arrested, while a 40-foot go-fast boat, equipped with three powerful engines was seized, the police said.
"We were able to seize 480 kilogrammes (1,056 lb.) of cocaine which has a street value of US$4 million ($195 million), but we believe this is a much larger shipment and we are presently searching the area for more drugs," Senior Supt. Carl Williams, head of the Police Narcotics Division, told The Gleaner yesterday.
The police have named only the Colombians, identified as Leonardo Lever Pomeres, Lionel Dario Smith Mitchell and Victor Arturo Forbes Newball. Narcotics detectives said they have been charged with illegal entry into the island and unlawful possession of property, pending further investigation.
Wednesday's drug haul comes two weeks after law enforcement agents intercepted a 30-foot go-fast boat, with a record haul of 1,543 kilos (3,395 lb.) of cocaine, coming from Colombia. Five persons, including an auxiliary policeman, have since been charged in connection with the find, and the case is now before the court.
According to SSP Williams, the latest bust was a joint operation between United States drug law enforcement agents, the local Marine Police, the Jamaica Defence Force and Jamaican narcotics agents.
The boat was reported to have been spotted on Monday off the coast of Jamaica by US law enforcement officers who chased it to a point, then alerted the Jamaican authorities.
Hunted by JDF Air Wing, the JDF Coast Guard and the Marine Police, the boat was spotted in Jamaican waters. It was chased and later found off the Falmouth coast of Trelawny.
There was no cocaine in the go-fast boat but three Colombians were picked up by narcotics police who began an extensive search in the area. On Wednesday, the five Jamaicans were nabbed and 21 bales of cocaine seized.
The police say they believe the men in the boat threw cocaine and several other items overboard during the chase. The items are believed to have included guns and navigational equipment.
