Glenroy Sinclair, Staff ReporterNARCOTICS DETECTIVES, working in collaboration with members of the Financial Investigation Division (FID), yesterday arrested a Mandeville-based businessman who is wanted in the United States.
Head of the Narcotics Division, Assistant Commissioner Errol Strong, confirmed last night that 48-year-old Carlton Dunkley was nabbed at one of his posh apartments in St. Andrew, while in the company of a female
medical doctor.
"He was arrested on a provisional warrant and will be put before the court before the Christmas holidays," Strong said.
Sergeant Steve Brown, the Constabulary Communication Network's (CCN) liaison
officer for Operation Kingfish, said Mr. Dunkley, a former member of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), is wanted in the U.S. on drug-related charges. He will likely face extradition proceedings to that country.
Mr. Dunkley is also the managing director of the Payless chain of supermarkets and, according to the police, the owner of a number of plazas and other businesses in St. Mary, St. Ann, St. James and Portmore. He is currently in custody at the Horizon Park Remand Centre in Kingston. The police yesterday closed the
supermarkets for "evidential purposes." The businesses were thoroughly checked as the lawmen searched computers, looking at various transactions.
ON THE EDGE
Prior to being arrested, reports are that a team of undercover police officers were on Mr. Dunkley's trail since Tuesday night, while another team was kept busy identifying his assets across the island. Detectives close to the investigation said the arrest of Mr. Dunkley has left a number of prominent business persons on edge.
"Some have even started hiding their posh vehicles," said an informed source working closely with Operation Kingfish.
On November 30, a detachment of detectives from Scotland Yard, the London-based intelligence agency, swooped down on several posh residences in upscale St. Andrew.
An Associated Press report yesterday said a joint U.S., British and Jamaican operation against the Caribbean drug trade had seized 12 tonnes (11 metric tons) of cocaine since October.
Britain's Foreign Office Minister, Bill Rammell, said the Royal Navy warship HMS Richmond, was participating in Operation Kingfish alongside the U.S. Coast Guard and Jamaican law enforcement officials.
Rammell told reporters in London that in addition to the drugs, the operation had seized 36 boats used by drug smugglers in the waters around Jamaica.
Rammell said the operation had contributed to an 80 per cent decline since the start of the year, in the amount of cocaine flowing through Jamaica, a major staging post for cocaine produced in Colombia.
