AFTER A two-year lull in seizures, the narcotics police said that millions of dollars' worth of cocaine is again flowing through the island's ports.

Senior Superintendent Carlton Wilson, head of the Transnational Crime and Narcotics Division, said that for the first six months of the year, the police have seized 161 kilograms of the dangerous drug.

"Last year, we confiscated 265 kilograms, so if the trend continues, we should surpass the amount seized in 2008," Wilson said.

Police records suggest there has been a significant increase in the arrest of persons attempting to smuggle narcotics through the island's two international airports.

According to Wilson, last year, 7,075 people were arrested while up to the end of May this year, 4,167 people were nabbed for drug trafficking.

New method

Last Thursday, a Jamaican woman travelling from Curaçao was arrested at the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, St James, after 2.5 pounds of cocaine was detected inside a television she had in her possession.

The following day, a German national was in the process of boarding a flight to Germany when 3.75 pounds of cocaine was found in his luggage. Both were arrested and charged.

"Cocaine is being smuggled into the country, in small portions, concealed in electrical appliances, luggage or body packing. They are coming from Trinidad and Tobago, Curaçao, Guyana and Suriname," Wilson said.

"Just as how it comes in, it is smuggled back out in small parcels, with most of it destined for the United Kingdom, where a kilogram of cocaine is being sold for up to £50,000," he said.

Cocaine operations took a nosedive in Jamaica following the arrest of nine men during a massive raid conducted by the narcotics police in collaboration with their United States and United Kingdom counterparts in April 2004.

Since that major operation, a number of so-called kingpins went underground. According to police intelligence, some have even migrated to locations such as Brazil.

On April 21, 2004, Norris 'Deedo' Nembhard and eight other men, including five Colombians, were arrested during police operations in St Ann and St James.

Nembhard was one of four Jamaicans arrested, along with Herbert Henry, a police corporal, Vivian Dalley, a taxi operator, and businessman Robroy Williams.

At least five of the nine arrested and extradited have since been convicted in the United States.

glenroy.sinclair@gleanerjm.com