We are concerned about the increase in cocaine seizures in recent times by the police and the Customs Department’s Contraband Enforcement Team.

Our apprehension is based on our belief that Jamaica is once again being regularly used as a primary transshipment point in the drug supply route by the infamous narcotics producers and smugglers, usually based in South America, to their lucrative markets in North America.

While this paper congratulates the sterling work of our law enforcement agencies, we know and fully understand that the massive seizures of cocaine, with its high street value, are but a drop in the ocean of the trade in this destructive drug.

Jamaica, because of its strategic geographic location, has long been one of the main shipping routes for narcotics smugglers, and with that come myriad problems, including more use of the highly addictive product by locals, leading to damaged lives and, by logical extension, an almost automatic increase in crimes, especially petty thefts, murders and shootings.

We have experienced this scenario before; however, through the outstanding work of the Kingfish task force we were able to combat this problem with noted seizures and the arrest, charge, conviction, and indeed extradition of several of the major players.

The upshot was a lull in activities by the drug criminals which was palpable, and Jamaica restored its international image as a nation committed to the anti-narcotics efforts of the world community.

Kingfish, however, is no more. Instead, we have the Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Task Force (MOCA). The reason for the change of name has never really been explained in full to the public by the authorities, but MOCA — apart from mainly some seizures of property from scammers and other bit initiatives — is not having the same effect as its predecessor.

Despite the many issues faced by the commissioner of police and his new deputy in charge of crime, we urge that the fullest attention be paid to this worrying development.

We need to engage in a frank review of the MOCA and, wherever there are weaknesses, we need to direct resources as well as implement measures to strengthen them.

For there is too much at stake if we yield ground in this battle to the drug smugglers.

Simply put, Jamaica cannot afford to return to the days of old, as the health and survival of our nation is at risk.