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Cops unable to stop drug planes

WESTERN BUREAU:

THE POLICE are still unable to prevent the landing of suspicious aircraft at the Ken Jones Aerodrome at St. Margaret's Bay, Portland, despite increasing their presence in the area.

Reports reaching The Gleaner last week were that aircraft, believed to be involved in cocaine trafficking, continued to make unauthorised landings at the airstrip. At the same time, the police have complained that they were not getting the co-operation of residents.

But even with the presence of the Narcotics police, activities have not ceased and if anything, may have increased, according to residents. The Narcotics post, they say, was still without a telephone. And there are reports of cocaine being stashed in bushes waiting to be loaded on to planes.

"The Ken Jones aerodrome has always been a problem area for us," Superintendent Gladstone Wright of the Narcotics Division explained in an interview on Friday. "It is a difficult area to police with a lot of bushes surrounding the airstrip. Also, we find that a lot of corruption takes place down there where a lot of those in authority allow themselves to be bribed by the drug traffickers."

According to Detective Inspector in charge of crime at the Port Antonio CIB Branch, Michael Ellis, a long stretch of the strip at the Ken Jones Aerodrome is partially hidden by bushes. "We did a clean sweep of the area under adverse conditions and based on what we observed, it would be easy for any small aircraft to drop in, pick up, or deliver illegal substances without the knowledge of the security personnel in place at the aerodrome."

The detective said a strong police presence would be maintained in the area to monitor suspicious activities. "Many persons have come to believe that the area is being transformed into a major drug transshipment point," he said.

Another police officer who spoke to The Gleaner but requested that his name be withheld, said that there was a thriving cocaine trade in the resort town and that powerful people were involved.

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