Glenroy Sinclair, Staff Reporter

Two of the 11 vehicles seized by Operation Kingsfish and the narcotics police, and taken to narcotics headquarters on Spanish Town Road, Kingston, during operations in the Corporate Area and Manchester, yesterday. - Andrew Smith/Photography Editor

Eleven luxury vehicles were seized and two persons arrested yesterday during a massive international counter-narcotics operation conducted in the Corporate Area and Manchester.

The vehicles include models, such as, Mercedes Benz, a Jaguar, Honda and Dodge Ram with a street value of more than $40 million, were taken to the Narcotics Headquarters on Spanish Town Road, Kingston.

"This was part of an international narcotics operation, which was conducted simultaneously by law enforcement agents in at least five other countries in North and South America," said Senior Superintendent Carlton Wilson, head the Jamaica Constabulary Force's (JCF) Narcotics Division.

National Security Minister Dr. Peter Phillips hailed yesterday's operation. "First of all I would like to congratulate not only the men and women in Kingfish but also the associated members of the JDF and police and who were involved in this operation," said Dr. Phillips. "It has taken place over a long period of time and I think this is a reflection of our improved local capabilities and increased cooperation with our local partners.

"It also reflects our determination to remove all organised criminality and also the level of the international networks, many of which are led by Jamaicans."

SSP Wilson disclosed on Tuesday that his team was pursuing a number of persons who were involved directly and indirectly with the illegal drug trade. Yesterday, they arrested a 78-year-old man, Jeffery Lewis, and his 30-year-old son, Garth. They are now facing extradition to the United States on drug-related charges.

Inspector Steve Brown, the liaison officer at Operation Kingfish, said the elder Lewis was picked up early yesterday morning at his upscale St. Andrew home. His son was held at his Golden Spring home.

Intelligence-driven operations

Reports are that the intelligence-driven operations, which took the officers to eight locations, also yielded several items, such as, passports, computers, computer-related documents, financial records and assorted sums of foreign currency.

The efforts of Operation Kingfish, which has been working in collaboration with narcotics detectives, the Special Anti-Crime Task Force, Mobile Reserve and Flying Squad sleuths over the past month, have paid rich dividends since Monday.

Between Monday and Tuesday, they managed to seize close to 3,000 pounds of compressed ganja in Cockpit, Clarendon, and Old Harbour Bay, St. Catherine. Five men, including a Bahamian national, were also arrested. The lawmen also seized a 40-foot fishing boat and a truck.

Initial police reports said 1,068 pounds of compressed ganja were found in Clarendon, while another 1,868 pounds of compressed ganja were discovered in an abandoned fishing vessel that was hidden in the mangroves in Old Harbour Bay.

Police intelligence suggested that Old Harbour Bay find was destined for Haiti. The police have received intelligence that Jamaica and Haiti have been involved in a gun-for-ganja trade for the past two years.

Police Commissioner Lucius Thomas yesterday hailed the operation as a major success and stressed that it has put a significant dent in the illegal gun-for-ganja trade.

"I must commend the various groups which have been working hard on this assignment over the past month, for a job well done," said Commissioner Thomas.

"We will continue our fight," declared the Police Commissioner Thomas.