John Myers Jr., Staff ReporterTHE ISLAND'S postal service has again come under scrutiny from foreign drug enforcement agencies as a report out of the United Kingdom said packages of crack/cocaine worth millions of dollars were seized in that country on arrival from Jamaica.
According to a report carried by the South London Press newspaper, the London police intercepted a package containing hundreds of drinking straws in ornamental containers placed in a corrugated cardboard parcel and shipped from Jamaica through the postal system to a London post office.
When contacted yesterday, officials at the Postal Corporation of Jamaica (PCJ) refused to comment as the chief executive officer, Dr. Blossom O' Meally-Nelson, was said to be out of office attending a meeting.
Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Errol Strong, head of the Narcotics Police Division, said the local police had knowledge of the incident. "I have seen the report," ACP Strong said. He, however, said "people used various means of conveyance...I can't tell you how often (the post office is used), I will only tell you that it is happening."
SIMILAR INCIDENT
Newly-appointed Commissioner of Police Lucius Thomas said he had heard of a similar incident occurring but could not say definitively if it had happened. However, he said "if the report is true then it follows that an investigation would be carried out".
In unearthing what the British described as a "sophisticated and new smuggling method", the police reportedly waited until the package, which was marked "special delivery" and addressed to a housein Clapham, was claimed by its intended receivers. This latest find had the police collecting packages from the post office and sifting through straws, according to the report in the South London Press.
The British newspaper said the police arrested Kenneth Noakes, 50 and Philip Cunningham, 37 who both admitted to attempting to possess a class-A drug with intent to supply. Both men appeared in the Kingston Crown Court last week and were sentenced to a total of 11 years; Noakes for five years while Cunningham was given a six-year term.
"I am extremely pleased with the sentence, which sends a strong message that those involved in dealing drugs can expect a considerable period in custody," Detective Superintendent Steve Dann, project leader for the Met's Middle Market Drugs Project was quoted as saying in the report. The project was set up in November 2004 to stem the supply of hard drugs
