Glenroy Sinclair, Staff Reporter
Some of the nearly 6,000 pounds of compressed ganja that the police seized on Tuesday at premises on Elletson Road, East Kingston. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer
The Narcotics police in collaboration with the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) scored another major success Tuesday afternoon, when they seized over $35 million worth of compressed ganja, one pound of hash oil, two compressors and a small boat engine, during an operation in East Kingston.
"This is the largest single find over the past decade," head of the Narcotics Division, Senior Superintendent Carlton Wilson, told The Gleaner yesterday.
The single biggest ganja find was reportedly back in 1996 when the police seized over 20,000 pounds of ganja in Clarendon, a parish which they still have a major concern about.
SSP Wilson said the items were found at a house on Elletson Lane, which is in close proximity to the Elletson Road police complex. The officer explained that the over 5,890 pounds of ganja was concealed in several parcels and packed in 126 cardboard boxes. The drug was prepared and ready for export.
Recently, Jamaica was blacklisted by United States as one of the major drug-producing countries, but according to SSP Wilson, the assistance from their overseas counterparts has led to a significant decline in cocaine seizures.
Major increase in production
"As a result of this, we have observed a major increase in ganja production," said SSP Wilson.
He further explained that up to the end August this year, his team had seized 41,643.86 pounds of ganja, as against 31,741.60 seized last year. Pointing to other successes, he said last year the police seized 56 vehicles that were involved in ganja operation, so far this year they have seized 58. Up to August they had seized four containers, two more than what they seized last year.
"We have intensified our eradication process," the Narcotics Chief said.
Apart from the many seminars and lectures, educating people about the dangers of drugs, the officer said the police were able to destroy 20,880.20 pounds of cured ganja up to August this year. Last year they destroyed 7,031.20 pounds. Since January of this year, they have also destroyed 282 hectares of fully grown ganja.
