By Glenroy Sinclair/Nagra Plunkett, Staff ReportersFOUR MEN, including a sub-officer of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), were detained yesterday by the narcotics police in what is said to be a joint international drug operation conducted in the parishes of St. Ann and St. James.
Further reports are that five Colombian nationals were also arrested during the well-executed drug operation, which involved military personnel and law enforcement agents from the United States and the United Kingdom. Several expensive motor vehicles were also seized.
The Jamaicans arrested have been identified as 52-year-old businessman Norris Nembhard, alias 'Deedo' of Runaway Bay, St. Ann; Robroy Williams, alias 'Spy', a 47-year-old businessman of Montego Bay, St. James; Vivian Dalley, 46, a taxi operator, also of Montego Bay and Herbert Henry, 46, alias 'Scarry', a newly-promoted police corporal.
COLOMBIANS OVERSTAYED
Provisional warrants of arrest were executed on the men for them to appear in court on Friday, April 23, 2004.
The Colombians, who have been identified as Luis Miguel, Avila Arias, Roberto Chavez Lesmes, Monica Sotomayor Torrius and Hugo Fernando Chegwe Gomez were held in Lilliput, St. James. They are suspected of having overstayed their visas in Jamaica and will be charged accordingly.
"The fifth Colombian was picked up in Cardiff Hall, St. Ann. He is somebody whom we have deported before," head of the Narcotics Division, Senior Superintendent Carl Williams, told The Gleaner yesterday.
According to Mr. Williams, the operation began late on Tuesday night and met with almost immediate success as scores of law enforcement officers swooped down on a guest house in Salem, St. Ann, where Nembhard was held and immediately whisked away to Kingston, in a Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) helicopter.
CITIZENS PROTEST
Nembhard's arrest prompted scores of citizens in Salem yesterday to take to the streets in protest. The demonstration was eventually quelled by the police. Williams and Dalley were picked up in similar fashion at their respective homes in Montego Bay, St. James.
The newly-promoted sub-officer was arrested yesterday at his residence in Forest Hills, upper St. Andrew.
"These men have been known to be (allegedly) involved in the trafficking of a large quantity of illegal drugs," said SSP Williams.
"We are looking for a man known as Martin Marks who it is believed can assist us with the investigation. We want him to come in and talk to us," the narcotics chief said.
Last month two Montego Bay businessmen, Donovan 'Plucki' Williams and Leebert Ramcharan, were arrested on what was said to be part of an international drug operation. The matter is currently before the court and both men are facing extradition proceedings which could lead to them facing charges in the United States.
