$51.7M Cocaine Seized in Papine, St Andrew — Construction Worker Held
JCF SWAT officers found 69kg of cocaine at a University Crescent residence in St Andrew on Monday night. A construction worker was taken into custody awaiting formal charges.
Construction worker detained after 69kg cocaine find in St Andrew
A construction worker is in police custody after officers seized approximately 69 kilogrammes of cocaine — valued at $51.7 million — from a residence on University Crescent in Papine, St Andrew, jamaica-gleaner.com reports.
The operation took place at around 11:30 pm on Monday, November 2, and was carried out by members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force's (JCF) Specialised Operations Branch Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team acting on intelligence.
Officers executed a search warrant at the premises and discovered several cartons containing the drug. The Firearms and Narcotics Investigation Division (FNID) was subsequently called in, and the substance was weighed at 69 kilogrammes — equivalent to 152 pounds — with an estimated street value of $51.7 million.
The construction worker, identified as the sole occupant of the residence at the time, was taken into custody. His identity is being withheld pending further investigation by the FNID. No formal charges had been filed as of Wednesday.
In a statement issued that same day, the JCF said it continues to collaborate with local and international partners to disrupt organised criminal networks and intercept illegal narcotics and firearms. The force added that such operations are directed at protecting Jamaica's borders and communities.
Source: Google News JM — Crime