Rasbert Turner, Sunday Gleaner Writer

Inspector Selwyn Williams (left) and Dean Johnson (right), deputy superintendent of police at the Old Harbour Police Station in St. Catherine, examine compressed ganja. The drug was taken from one of two metal canisters that were recovered at Port Esquivel in the parish on Friday during an operation. In the background is another member of the police team. - Norman Grindley/Deputy Chief Photographer

Spanish Town, St. Catherine:

The Old Harbour police in St. Catherine say they have made a significant dent in the illegal ganja exportation trade, with the recovery of more than 300 pounds of compressed ganja, worth about $15 million, on the beach at Port Esquivel in the parish.

According to Inspector Selwyn Williams, the police, acting on intelligence, on Friday proceeded to the bauxite port and upon their arrival discovered two metal canisters. They were removed to the nearby Old Harbour Police Station.

Pickaxe used

Yesterday morning the officers were assisted by the Fire Brigade to cut open one of the canisters which was found to contain vegetable matter resembling ganja. The second canister was opened with welding tools and also found to contain the illegal substance. The contents were so compressed that a policeman had to use a pickaxe to loosen the ganja.

Inspector Williams told The Sunday Gleaner that the ganja find was as a result of a close relationship between the police in Old Harbour and residents.

Reacting to the find, Reginald Grant, assistant commissioner of police in charge of Area Five, said: "We will be intensifying our efforts to deal with drug running in the area."

During his visit to the Old Harbour Police Station yesterday, he had high praises for the police and promised that the drive against crime would continue.