Some of the estimated 500 truckloads of sand stolen from a 64-acre property in Coral Spring, Trelawny, has been found at two hotel developments on the island's north coast.

The Gleaner understands that the hotels, operated by overseas investors, were named in a report which was submitted to Cabinet yesterday.

Up to late yesterday afternoon, The Gleaner was unable to contact minister without portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister, Daryl Vaz, who took the report to Cabinet.

However, Gleaner sources say tests conducted by the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA), through the Mining and Geology Department, concluded that some of the stolen sand had been delivered to the two properties.

The sources say the operators of one of the two properties where the stolen sand was found had raised concern when the sand was delivered there.

The hotel operator called in NEPA and the police after the contractor was unable to provide proof of a sand-mining permit.

Less than helpful

According to the sources, the operator of the second property has been less than helpful in the investigation and it is not yet clear how that property dealt with the stolen sand.

With the report yet to be released, The Gleaner sources were unable to say if the police, who were part of the probe ordered by Prime Minister Bruce Golding, have identified the person or group who stole the sand.

Last month, the developer of the property, near Duncans in Trelawny, announced that an almost $8-billion project had been put on hold because the stolen sand had damaged the beachfront. The developer, Felicitas Limited, had planned to build 36 six-star, luxury villas with spa, restaurant, amphitheatre and marina in phase one of the development.

Days after it was discovered that the sand was stolen, geologist Basil Young told The Gleaner that the developers might have to wait a century if they look to nature to reproduce the stolen sand.