Glenroy Sinclair, Staff Reporter
MORE THAN $500 million worth of narcotics drugs have been seized by the multi-agency Counter Narcotics and Major Crimes Task Force team, during operations conducted islandwide over the past six months.
The quantity of drugs seized include 115 kg of cocaine, 7,500 kg of ganja, 467.9 kg hash oil and 1,035 ecstacy tablets. Twenty-eight motor vehicles, four boats and one container were also seized as conveyances used in the drug trade.
In respect to the ganja eradication programme, approximately 174 hectares of fully grown ganja plants were destroyed, along with 3,760 seedlings, 177 nurseries and 1,615 kg of cured ganja.
"Our last major seizure was in Clarendon where we found 680 pounds of compressed ganja, packaged and ready for export," said Superintendent Carlton Wilson, of the Narcotics Division.
According to Mr. Wilson, since the arrest of some of the major players in the drug trade earlier this year, there is no evidence to suggest that cocaine is being imported into the country in any large quantity.
"What we are seeing is that people are resorting to some of the old methods," said Supt. Wilson.
TRINIDADIANS ARRESTED
Pointing to two recent cases, the officer said two Trinidadians were arrested and charged after several packets of cocaine were found strapped to their bodies. The police said the foreigners were en route to the United Kingdom.
Commenting on the anti-narcotics operations, Police Commissioner Lucius Thomas disclosed at a press conference held last Friday at the Police Officers Club in Kingston, that at least 2,879 Jamaicans, along with 55 foreign nationals, were arrested for breaches of the Dangerous Drugs Act, since January.
He stressed that vigilance at the ports have resulted in the arrest of 95 persons at the Norman Manley International and 82 persons at the Sangster International airports.
Commissioner Thomas further stressed that during the period under review, operations by the multi-agency Counter Narcotics and Major Crimes Task Force led to the arrest of 91 persons for crimes ranging from murders, shooting with intent, unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition and drugs.
Of those arrested, 29 wanted persons were apprehended, including one of Jamaica's most wanted, Kevin Tyndale, otherwise called Richie Poo. Six of those arrested are linked to multiple murders. Among them is prominent Kingston area leader, Donald 'Zekes' Phipps.
The task force also recovered 78 firearms and seized 874 rounds of assorted ammunition.
