Glenroy Sinclair, Assignment Coordinator
Following last week's seizure of more than US$7.6 million (J$509 million) worth of compressed ganja and hash oil in Kingston and Clarendon, the narcotics police are now probing a major network at the Kingston ports.
"We suspect that there are a number of persons at these ports who are facilitating the drugs," said Senior Superintendent Carlton Wilson, head of the Narcotics Department.
The officer who was speaking with The Gleaner yesterday, said preliminary investigations have revealed that the drugs were destined for overseas and the majority was supposed to have gone through the Kingston ports.
INTERCEPTED
But according to James Forbes, vice-president in charge of security at the Port Authority of Jamaica (PAJ), had the drugs gone through the ports, there was a 100 per cent chance that they would have been intercepted.
"Last year our x-ray machines intercepted several containers that were contaminated with narcotics drugs," said Mr. Forbes.
In the past the smugglers used to conceal the ganja in the flooring of the containers, but x-ray machines are detecting the drug, regardless of where it is concealed.
Last week nine persons were arrested during separate operations in Kingston and Clarendon. The streak of success began on Wednesday when the police raided premises on Languard Avenue, St. Andrew, and seized a 1993 white Toyota Hiace minibus, laden with 4,200 pounds of ganja and 90 pounds of hash oil. This, in addition to the seizure of $2,239,000.00.
CUSTOMS SEAL SEIZED
During another leg of the operation at Lindsay Crescent, also in St. Andrew, a Dodge Sprinter motor vehicle with 363.63 kilograms of compressed ganja, along with J$51,000, US$1,000 and a Customs seal were seized.
A total of 24 persons were held, but after the processing only eight were charged.
On Thursday, the narcotics team raided the Grassyard market on Beckford Street, downtown Kingston and found 250 pounds of ganja. Three persons were arrested and charged.
The successful operation continued on Friday in Clarendon, where the team seized another 425 pounds of compressed ganja and arrested a Haitian national who was an illegal immigrant. Reports are that the drug was concealed in nine crocus bags.
