WESTERN BUREAU:

The People's National Party councillor/caretaker who has been detained in connection with a major drug bust is likely to be charged in connection with the find.

Yesterday, detectives attached to the Narcotics Division did not name the politician, but confirmed that he was still in custody and was being interrogated.

"We have not yet charged him, but it is very likely that he will be charged," said an officer close to the investigation. When asked how soon he might be charged, the officer replied: "I don't want to give a definitive time. I don't know how early."

"The preliminary work is now being done in terms of questioning and interrogation, as we speak," said the officer.

Some level of popularity

The politician, who has been working assiduously to unseat a Jamaica Labour Party councillor in one of the St. James divisions in the next local government elections, has earned some level of popularity among residents in the division, being a member of the local community.

He was picked up at a construction site in Montego Bay about 1:00 p.m. Monday during a joint operation between the St. James police and members of the Kingston Narcotics Division.

Police sources confirmed yesterday that the politician was taken into custody after he allegedly attempted to export a shipment of lumber from the Kingston Wharf to a destination in the United Kingdom on June 13. Checks made by The Gleaner revealed that 59.9 pounds of compressed marijuana were found stashed among the lumber.

Investigations pointed to the politician being part of the consignor. "We tracked him down and finally nabbed him on Monday," said the officer.

Asked what the implications were, as it related to the United Kingdom, the officer said: "Our investigations have led us to Britain, so we have asked our international counterparts to assist us with the investigations, and to locate persons there who might be of interest to the investigations or who might be able to assist."