Over $1 Billion in Cocaine Seized at Kingston Port and Montego Bay Airport in 48 Hours

Jamaica's JCF seized more than $1 billion worth of cocaine across three operations in 48 hours, including two container busts at Kingston's port and one airport arrest.

JCF Nets $1B in Cocaine at Kingston Freeport and Sangster Airport

The Jamaica Constabulary Force seized more than $1 billion worth of cocaine across three counter-narcotics operations spanning just 48 hours, jamaica-gleaner.com reports, with the bulk of the drugs intercepted at the Kingston Freeport Container Terminal (KFTL) in two separate finds from a single vessel.

The operations, carried out between October 16 and 17 by the JCF's Firearms and Narcotics Investigation Division (FNID) alongside the Jamaica Customs Agency and international partners, resulted in the confiscation of approximately 1,457 kilogrammes of cocaine at the Kingston terminal, as well as the arrest of a British national at Sangster International Airport in St James.

At around 4:05 pm on Friday, October 16, investigators at KFTL searched a container bound for Belgium and uncovered 25 knitted bags holding 661 kilogrammes of cocaine, with a street value estimated at $462.7 million. The following morning, at approximately 10 o'clock, a second container from the same vessel was examined. It yielded 28 knitted bags containing 789 kilogrammes of cocaine, valued at roughly $552.3 million. Both containers had reached Jamaica from Honduras on October 12.

The third seizure took place later that Saturday at Sangster International Airport, where officers detected irregularities in the luggage of a British national who was preparing to board a flight to London. A search revealed 14.5 pounds of cocaine concealed within several food packages, along with four plastic bottles holding liquid cocaine — drugs with a combined street value of approximately $4.5 million. The man was taken into custody; his identity is being withheld pending further investigation.

Acting FNID Director, Deputy Superintendent of Police Oreth Dunkley, characterised the finds as a serious blow to organised drug-trafficking networks.

"The trafficking of illicit drugs poses a serious threat to Jamaica. It fuels organised crime and contributes to violence in our communities," Dunkley said.

Dunkley added that the division remains committed to working with both local and international partners to intercept illegal drug shipments and apprehend those responsible. The operations, he said, form part of broader efforts to protect Jamaica's national security and public safety.

Source: Google News JM — Crime