Some of the ganja parcels that were recoveredby the Narcotics Division. The busts on Friday and Monday have a street value of more than $377 million. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer

Shelly-Ann Thompson, Gleaner Writer

The Narcotics Division of the Jamaica Constabulary Force had their work cut out for them Monday as they tallied more than $377 million worth of ganja found in shipments since Friday.

Senior Superintendent Carlton Wilson, of the division, said two male suspects were in custody regarding one of the finds while intensive investigations had begun into the other recoveries.

On Monday, about 7:00 a.m. 1,045 pounds of compressed and loose parcels of ganja was found in an unoccupied dwelling on Summit Road in Morant Bay, St. Thomas. Several rectangular packages containing the drug were discovered by the police valuing about $142.12 million.

On Friday, just under 1,000 pounds of compressed ganja was found beneath the flooring of a 40-foot refrigerated container filled with yams destined for London, England. A false compartment in the floor of the container that was used to conceal the ganja had to be stripped and drilled by the officers to retrieve the drug.

The other bust, also on Friday, recovered 729 pounds of ganja hidden in dresser-type furniture at a shipping warehouse in St. Andrew. The 18 parcels of drug found values about $99,144,000.

Street value

Marijuana now has an international street value of Ja$136,000 (US$2,000) per pound. The fact that the other illicit drug, cocaine, is currently scarce on the island has attributed to the recent resurgence in cultivation and trafficking of ganja, said Deputy Superintendent of the division, Conroy Reid.

Since this year, ganja seized by the police has almost totalled the amount of 2006. So far, more than 24,000 kilograms (52,800 pounds) of marijuana have been found against 37,196.690 kilograms (81,832.718 pounds) of that recovered for last year.

"Within the traditional ganja-growing areas farmers have intensified their cultivation," he said.

DSP Reid, however, said the eradication programme is on in earnest to nip the lucrative ganja trade as soon as possible. The programme consists of the police, civilians and Jamaica Defence Force personnel.

The deputy superintendent noted that St. Elizabeth is still among the leading parishes for marijuana cultivation. Other parishes topping the list are Westmoreland, Clarendon, St. Catherine, Man-chester and St. Ann.

Since this year, the Marine and Narcotics divisions have made several seizures of canisters filled with ganja attached to vessels or floating in the country's coastal waters. At least 24 canisters with the drug have been seized in 2007.