ST ANDREW, Jamaica— The Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) is warning Jamaican citizens to stay away from the illegal drug trade in the wake of numerous drug seizures since the start of the year.

According to the JCF’s Corporate Communications Unit (CCU), Jamaica’s location presents the perfect opportunity for drug dealers from other countries to use the island as a transhipment port to get drugs into North America and Europe.

This, the CCU says, has resulted in numerous Jamaicans and foreigners attempting to board commercial aircraft with drugs either ingested, strapped on to their bodies or as a part of their luggage.

The police said that drug trafficking poses a significant threat to the country’s stability and security.

“At the community level, drug trafficking contributes to social disorganisation, unemployment levels, gang violence, murders, shooting and other violent crimes. Also, street level violence is commonplace among gangs that are involved in the trade as they seek to control turfs in order to capitalise on sales, resulting in multiple homicides,” the CCU said in a release.

“People are not only putting their life in danger, but also risking the lives of their families and friends, so we are urging citizens and foreigners to stay away from this dangerous and illegal trade,” Head of the Narcotics Division, Senior Superintendent of Police McArthur Sutherland, cautioned.

He added that the Narcotics Division had increased their “vigilance” at various ports entry and has stepped up operational activities to arrest individuals and seize drugs.