Glenroy Sinclair, Assignment Coordinator

Following another major drug bust at the wharves on Tuesday, narcotics chief, Senior Superin-tendent Carlton Wilson, has concluded that corruption is now at the highest level at the Kingston seaport.

But the vice-president in charge of public relations at the Port Authority of Jamaica, Pat Belinfanti, believes Wilson is exaggerating.

According to Wilson, an empty 40-foot container, with more than 450lb of compressed ganja concealed in the sides, was intercepted at Gordon Cays, shortly before it was scheduled to be loaded on to a vessel destined for Panama, and Shanghai in Japan.

"We have since called in the Scene of Crime team," said Wilson, adding that an investigation was under way.

No comment

But Belinfanti stressed that the container, which was intercepted on Tuesday, was detected as a result of the security system at the wharves.

"I am cognisant that at any port in the world where narcotics contra-band is passing through, people will be tempted, because of the sum of money involved," he said. "But I have not done any study to comment on the statement made by the police about the high level of corruption on the wharves."

Last month, Wilson disclosed that a narcotics intelligence report had linked a number of police personnel, custom officials and employees at the wharves to the growing drug trade.

Wilson said these persons were playing an integral part in the illegal drug trade.

He did not disclose the identities of the persons implicated, but revealed that on many occasions police personnel tipped off drug smugglers when the security forces were pursuing them.

Since making that comment, the narcotics police have arrested one employee on the wharf, after he entered the premises with a quantity of compressed ganja strapped to his body.

He has since been convicted on drug-related charges.