MONTEGO BAY, St James — National Security Minister Dr Horace Chang says the more than US$3.8 million ($551,000,000) and CAD$30,000 ($3,336,000) found at a house in Montego Bay, following Tuesday’s cocaine bust in the resort city, is the largest sum seized during a police operation in the history of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF).

The police had reported that on Tuesday, April 26, 2022, a pre-dawn operation — led by the Narcotics Division, and supported by the Joint Anti-Gang Task Force and the divisional police — was carried out in the swanky Coral Gardens community in St James.

A vehicle was intercepted and, during a search, cocaine weighing approximately 11 kilograms, with a street value of $88 million, was found.

Subsequent to the seizure, a search was conducted at a house in Coral Gardens where the police discovered the cash.

“This is the largest seizure of illegitimate cash in the history of the police operation,” Dr Chang had said.

Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Clifford Chambers, head of the Area One Police Division, concurred.

“It is considered to be one of the biggest financial finds associated with drug smuggling in Jamaica,” ACP Chambers said.

So far, two people have been taken into custody in connection with the drug bust. Their identities are being withheld pending further investigations.

On Friday, Parish Judge Sasha Smith Ashley ordered that one of the arrested individuals be charged or released by 6:00 pm on Tuesday, May 3, after a habeas corpus application was made on his behalf by his attorneys.

The court was informed by detectives that the investigations into the seizure are at a sensitive stage and that the suspect is to be questioned on May 3.

The individual is being represented by attorneys Martyn Thomas, Henry McCurdy and Michael Hemmings.

Meanwhile, ACP Chambers noted that in 2005 the United States had requested the extradition of the owner of the house where the large stash of cash was found, but it was blocked by the court.

Dr Chang lauded the police for their excellent work which led to the drug bust and subsequent money find.

“It is a reflection of the quality of work that is being done and the improved intelligence the police have in all areas and [due to which they] have been able to apprehend more and more of the criminal elements,” Dr Chang told the Jamaica Observer.

“But there are a large amount of them out there. The contract killing introduces a new element which is harder to catch but they are catching them. They are harder to apprehend in their early stage but we make amends. The police are making adjustments,” Dr Chang said.