POLICE from the constabulary's Narcotics Division yesterday afternoon seized cocaine weighing just more than 600 pounds and valued at about $315 million from a motorist along the Constant Spring Road in Kingston 8.

The motorist, William Gordon, 33, of Lilliput, St James, was subsequently arrested and charged with possession of, dealing in, conspiracy to export and taking steps to export cocaine.

The narco cops, who were apparently alerted about the illegal drugs, intercepted Gordon's red Nissan Sunny motor car, registered 3594 BY, along the usually busy Constant Spring Road at about 2:00 pm and allegedly found 315 kilograms (693 pounds) of cocaine during a search of the vehicle.
Gordon is to answer the charges in the Corporate Area Criminal Court on Monday, November 18.

Jamaica is a major transshipment point for illegal drugs and it is estimated that 10 per cent of the cocaine from Colombia - regarded as the cocaine capital - passes through the island.
Cocaine is valued at US$20,000 per kilogram on the American market.
Yesterday's seizure is the third major cocaine bust by the narcotics police this year.

In August the narcotics police seized 3,000 pounds of the contraband and arrested four persons - a policeman, two civilians and Colombian. The police then destroyed all but two bales (kept as evidence) of the drug in a huge bonfire along the Port Royal peninsular. Acting in collaboration with the Colombian authorities, the local police also seized a 20-foot Go-fast boat used in the transportation of the drugs, two 9mm handguns and eight magazines, navigational instruments, satellite telephones and coastal maps.

A few weeks later on September 10, another major cocaine bust took place in Portland. On that occasion, the police seized 28 bales of the drug valued at US$8 million and a boat which was used in the illegal operation. Four men, one of whom was believed to be a Colombian, escaped from the scene. No one has been held for that bust.

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