A 72-year-old man is among the five people who were arrested two weeks ago in relation to the estimated $12-billion cocaine bust in Havendale, St Andrew.

On Monday Deputy Commissioner of Police Fitz Bailey said the senior citizen, along with the others, who are all from Kingston addresses, were officially charged on Friday, August 16 with possession of cocaine, dealing in cocaine, trafficking cocaine, and conspiracy.

The 72-year-old has been identified as Junior Aldayne. The others are 57-year-old Clive Roy Davis, 58-year-old Collin Ricketts, 51-year-old George Sterling, and 42-year-old Clayton Peart.

Bailey, who is in charge of the crime portfolio, described the bust as the largest in Jamaica’s history.

“On Tuesday, August 6, 2024, members of the Firearms and Narcotics Division within the Counter-Terrorism and Organised Crime Branch executed a raid at 2 Riverside Drive, Kingston 19, which resulted in the seizure of a large quantity of cocaine and the arrest of five male Jamaican nationals. During the operation, a Toyota Hiace motor vehicle and a two storey concrete dwelling were searched when the police discovered several knitted bags containing packages with white powdery substance suspected to be cocaine,” Bailey said, indicating that the drugs weighed 2,526 kilogrammes and had an estimated street value of just over US$75 million.

Each of the accused men was interviewed in the presence of their attorney. They remain in police custody and await the finalisation of a court date.

“The Firearms and Narcotics Investigations Division along with local, regional and international partners are continuing investigation into this matter and are actively pursuing other leads to further dismantle other criminal networks,” Bailey said.

That division, he said, continues to make impact on illicit firearms and drugs trafficking, adding that since the start of 2024 the division has seized 86 illegal firearm, 1,154 rounds of ammunition, 20,074 kilograms of ganja, and approximately 67 kilogrammes of cocaine with an estimated street value of just over US$2 million.

“This figure does not include the most recent cocaine bust. Significant gains are being made in terms of the arrest of persons for drug offences. A total of 168 individuals have been arrested since the beginning of 2024; this includes 147 Jamaicans, eight Americans, five British, two Hungarians, one Dutch, one Argentinian, one French, one Haitian, one Canadian, and one Nicaraguan,” Bailey said.

“The Jamaica Constabulary Force will continue to pursue individuals and syndicates engaging in the illicit firearms and narcotics trade, having regards to the nexus between drug trafficking, firearms trafficking and violence,” Bailey added.