WESTERN BUREAU – A Montego Bay businessman who narcotics police allege is a major distributor of cocaine to the United States and England, was remanded in custody Friday after he was held in an early morning operation executed by members of the Area One Narcotics police last Thursday.

Police named the accused man as Paul Cargill, 30, of Barrett Hall, Lilliput, St James and said they had recovered 23 1/2 pounds of cocaine in Cargill’s bedroom during the raid.

Cargill’s girlfriend, Colleen Dennis, 30, and their household helper, Sylvia MIller, 35, were also held in the operation. All three are charged with possession of, and dealing in cocaine.

In recent times, the police have held a number of persons said to be up to their necks in the international cocaine trade. However, Cargill is alleged to be the first such person to be held in possession of the drug. Arising from the incident, the police seized a red Lexus car licensed 3039 ED, said to be owned by him.

A highly placed source at the Area One Narcotics Police told the Sunday Observer that they had been receiving information on Cargill’s alleged operations for quite some time, but this was the first time that they had gone to his home to carry out a raid. The police went to his home at about 8:30 am and during a search of his premises, claimed that 11 packages containing cocaine were found in his bedroom. Some of the packages, the cops said, were found on the floor of the room while others were found in the clothes closet.

Cargill, Dennis and Miller were all brought before the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate’s Court Friday where all three were remanded in custody and are due back in court on June 16. The police source told the newspaper that their investigations had led them to theorise that Cargill distributed cocaine by hiring individuals as couriers. The ‘drug mules’, as they are popular called, would transport the drug by either swallowing it or strapping it to their bodies. The police said they are not aware of Cargill being wanted by overseas agents.

Since the start of the year, a number of Montego Bay businessmen have been held in connection with the international drug trade. The first to be held were Leebert Ramcharan and Donovan ‘Plucky’ Williams. Next was Robroy ‘Spy’ Williams, 47, owner of the sound system ‘Jah Creation’, and car wash operator, Vivian ‘Jungle’ Dalley, 46, both of Westgate Hills.

St Ann businessman Norris ‘Dedo’ Nembhard, 52, and police constable Herbert ‘Scarrie’ Henry, 42, were also held in the crackdown. They were taken to the maximum security Horizon Remand Centre in Kingston. Their lawyers are fighting extradition proceedings that are being prepared against them.