Superintendent of Police Marlon Dietrich, head of the Marine Division, explains to 'The Gleaner' news team how the police got hold of this go-fast boat. The boat was recovered in St. Thomas and is believed to be from Colombia. It is suspected to have been used to smuggle cocaine into the country. - Norman Grindley/Deputy Chief Photographer

When most Jamaicans had their eyes glued to their television sets and their ears to the radio on Monday, listening for the results of the tightly contested general election, criminals were busy using the distraction to smuggle illegal drugs into the country.

"Police had their hands full as we were busy trying to keep a peaceful election and they (smugglers) were creating hell out there," Superintendent Marlon Dietrich, head of the Marine Division, told The Gleaner yesterday.

Cocaine

It is believed that hundreds of pounds of cocaine may have made its way into the country, as the Marine Police on Tuesday seized a 37-foot go-fast boat in the environs of the Blue Mahoe community, off the coast of St. Thomas. The boat, which is custom-built with three engines worth at least $2 million each, was found with several empty gas barrels.

"Acting on information yesterday morning from police control, we went to St. Thomas in the vicinity of Blue Mahoe and saw a go-fast boat and, from all indications, it seems to be used to transport cocaine from Colombia," he said.

Supt. Dietrich told The Gleaner that information suggests the men got into difficulty due to the effects of Hurricane Felix and ran aground. He, however, believed the men may have escaped from the island.

Supt. Dietrich also revealed that Operation Kingfish, the country's premier organised crime-fighting division, and the Narcotics Police are now carrying out extensive investigations to determine the destination of the contraband.