By Glenroy Sinclair, Staff Reporter 
A section of the unmanned Hendricks Wharf in Black River, St. Elizabeth, where it is alleged contraband are entering the island. - Norman Grindley/Staff Photographer
EFFECTIVE TOMORROW, the Marine Police and Coast Guard will be deployed to the island's south coast, specifically to the Hendricks Wharf which is believed to be a major point for contraband entering the island.
Unmanned by both police and Customs, fishermen and other passengers entering the island on vessels have easy access to the port, without their bags or personal items being checked.
Hendricks Wharf, located on Jamaica's south coast, in the sleepy rural capital, Black River, St. Elizabeth, was ordered closed more than 10 years ago by the Port Authority of Jamaica (PAJ) as the commercial activities that had previously kept the facility busy had ceased. The Sunday Gleaner understands that the PAJ no longer maintains navigational priorities of such ports.
"Anything that is happening there now is operating illegally," Senior Vice President of PAJ, Byron Lewis, told The Sunday Gleaner. "I am not aware of anybody getting any approval to conduct operations at Hendricks Wharf."
Sunday Gleaner investigations reveal that large quantities of powder cocaine, along with illegal firearms have allegedly slipped through that port of entry and are now stashed away in various communities across the island.
"We are aware of the situation at the wharf. Our intelligence have helped us to seize an AK-47 high-power rifle, that we found on the premises recently," Acting Senior Superintendent Herman "Chucky" Brown said.
The Hendricks Wharf is like any other small rural town. Approaching it from the east, it is not until you are atop the crown of the Black River bridge, that you get a full view of the busy little town.
At the mouth of the river, left of the bridge, the traditional sea-going activities with docks and boats, loading and unloading, are evident. Fishermen use these boats to travel hundreds of miles outside of Jamaica's coastal waters as they seek their catch. There are also reports that drug vessels travelling from South America meet local fishing vessels in mid-ocean where the illegal substance and other contraband items change hands. The gates leading to the premises of the wharf are unlocked. A Sunday Gleaner news team was able to walk freely from one end of the wharf to the other and had easy access to the vessels and their contents.
"We are now in the process of establishing a permanent narcotics base in Black River, this will also cover up to Whitehouse in Westmoreland," Police Commissioner Francis Forbes told The Sunday Gleaner.
The Commissioner indicated that the Police Force will be purchasing boats for this purpose. He said further that the Force could utilize vessels siezed during narcotics operations.
A spokesperson from the Customs Department said there is no permanent presence of Customs at the port. He said Customs will go there, based on their knowledge that a vessel is expected to call at the port.
Since 9/11, the Port Authority and SAJ combined forces to evaluate and enhance the security operations at the island's ports, starting with the Port of Kingston.
A Special Security Committee was formed, under the chairman-ship of the then president of the SAJ, Grantley Stephenson.
This committee pioneered a thorough review of access control at the port and implemented new measures to tighten entrance and exit points. In addition, a Security Plan for the Port of Kingston was developed along with a Security Manual that also covered Emergency Disaster and safety procedures.
Recommendations for the use of further technology to tighten security, including CCTV and X-ray machines were also made by this committee.
It has also called for the establishment of a Seaports Advisory Council which would be responsible for the security certification of all ports in the island based on prescribed security guidelines.
The Port Authority has agreed to the establishment of this council and is working towards it.
