Head of the narcotics police division, Senior Superintendent Carlton Wilson, confirmed yesterday that a private plane which flew into the island Thursday night, with former Prime Minister P.J. Patterson and other passengers, was searched immediately after it landed at the Norman Manley International Airport, Kingston.

The incident forced an emergency meeting at the national security ministry yesterday, and later in the afternoon a release was circulated to the media.

The release said the Government had ordered that the police conduct an investigation into the landing of a private aircraft at the Norman Manley International Airport shortly after 9 p.m. on Thursday.

The findings of the investigation are to be ready for Prime Minister Bruce Golding when he returns to the island on Sunday.

Allegations in the media seemed to implicate not just Patterson, but cellphone giants Digicel, who had chartered the plane.

In a response, the tele-communications company said: "Digicel is shocked at reports in the media stating that a private plane chartered by Digicel was involved in an incident at the Norman Manley International Airport involving several Cuban diplomats."

The release, sent to all media houses, went on to explain that there were no Cubans on board as some media had reported.

no issues

"Upon arrival from what was a one-day trip, all parties cleared customs and immigration in the usual way and left the airport with no issues at all," read the release.

"We are surprised at the reports in the media today as they are totally inconsistent with anything we saw or experienced.

"We hope and recommend that this whole issue be fully investigated by the Jamaican authorities, as we are deeply concerned by the irresponsible and damaging media reports which have surfaced to date," the release went on.

Patterson was also furious and issued a release that spoke to his view on the matter.

He said as far as he was aware, the police made their usual checks of the aircraft after he and the other passengers had left the airport since nothing "extraordinary" had been found.

"I have chosen to state the incontrovertible facts for the public record and categorically deny the false and spurious allegations relating to me that others have contrived," the former prime minister's release read.

The police, who spoke with The Gleaner, seemed to confirm Patterson's and Digicel's response.

"The narcotics police, in collaboration with our colleagues from the canine division, searched the aircraft, but nothing was found," SSP Wilson told The Gleaner yesterday.

According to the senior officer, the police had no knowledge of who the passengers were.

"Our only interest was information we had received about the aircraft. The pilot cooperated, and after the operation, we sent him on his way. We want to thank him very much for cooperating," commented SSP Wilson.

Digicel, former prime minister deny initial media reports