Glenroy Sinclair, Staff ReporterLESS THAN a week after a British newspaper reported that several million dollars worth of crack cocaine had been smuggled from Jamaica into the United Kingdom's postal system, narcotics detectives on Wednesday discovered over 100 pounds of compressed ganja concealed in mailbags at the Norman Manley International Airport, Kingston.
There have been no arrests, but preliminary investigations suggest that the illegal shipment was destined to an address in New Jersey in the United States. Head of the Narcotics Division, Assistant Commissioner Errol Strong, confirmed that the ganja was seized, but declined to elaborate.
EARLY SUCCESS
"The investigation continues and we are expecting some early success," the narcotics chief said.
In response to the drug find, Lance Hylton, chairman of the Postal Corporation of Jamaica, said any such find by the police shows that the postal security system is working.
"As part of our security arrangement we are working jointly with the police, checking all outgoing mails," said Mr. Hylton.
The Postal Corporation of Jamaica chairman said there was no evidence of any linkage between the drugs which turned up at the London post office and that which had been found in the local postal system. He explained that a private courier company had been used to send the cocaine to London in a box of drinking straws, and local narcotics detectives are investigating that matter.
MORE GANJA SEIZED
Assistant Commissioner Strong told The Gleaner that in another operation conducted early yesterday morning, his team of detectives seized 700 pounds of compressed ganja at a house in West Bay, Portmore, St. Catherine. Two persons were taken into custody.
The narcotics police have now seized more than $26 million worth of illegal drugs since the start of the year. Among the largest seizures for this year so far, is a shipment of over 4,000 pounds of compressed ganja that was found at a house in upper St. Andrew.
Reports are that the lawmen have so far confiscated over 14.07 kilograms of cocaine, 35 pieces of crack/cocaine and over 5,000 pounds of ganja.
