NEGRIL, Westmoreland — Members of the Marine Police Division have commenced a high level probe into last week’s mysterious disappearance of a boat assigned to the Westmoreland unit.

‎The vessel is a gift from the United States government.

According to a police source, who spoke to the Jamaica Observer on terms of anonymity, and who theorised that the vessel was stolen, if superiors had heeded the warning that the area in Negril where the boat is docked posed security challenges, it might not have gone missing.

The source added that members of the marine unit had to seek assistance from boat operators in the resort Negril town to embark and disembark from the vessel.

“No matter how we plea with them don’t listen. E-mail messages, hard copies were sent registering our concerns, but they just fell on deaf ears,” the disgruntled cop claimed

OBSERVER ONLINE was told that, ironically, since the boat was reported missing, orders have come down to relocate three defective vessels, two jet skis and a boat to the location which was recommended to dock the vessel.

When contacted, head of the Westmoreland Police Division, Deputy Superintendent David White confirmed that the vessel went missing, but directed the Observer to the head of the marine division, Superintendent Carl Ferguson for a comment. 

But, Superintendent Ferguson directed the Observer to commander of ‎the Border Security branch, ACP Assan Thompson, who could not be reached for a comment. 

Horace Hines