$3.1 billion in cocaine seized at Kingston seaport — police
KINGSTON, Jamaica — A massive drug bust at a seaport in Kingston has led to the seizure of over 1,000 pounds of cocaine disguised as Cuban honey, the police reported a short while ago.
The cocaine was seized during a joint operation conducted by the Jamaica Customs Agency and the Firearms and Narcotics Investigation Division (FNID) on Wednesday.
Lawmen say the drug was discovered during the security check of a 20-foot container, which contained 18 knitted bags with approximately 450 parcels of cocaine, weighing a total of 538.8 kilograms (1,183 pounds).
The estimated street value of the cocaine is $3.1 billion.
The cops say they have strong leads in the ongoing investigation into the find.
Senior Superintendent of Police and head of the FNID, Samuel Blake, said this seizure reflects the team’s ongoing vigilance and the enhanced operational efforts of both local and international stakeholders in intercepting drugs and firearms.
“We remain committed to disrupting these illegal shipments to protect the Jamaican people from groups seeking to undermine police efforts,” he said.
The find occurred during Wednesday’s visit of the United States (US) Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Combatting narcotics corruption was a key talking point of Rubio’s visit to Jamaica.
FNID investigators are appealing to anyone with information that can assist in the investigations to contact FNID at 876-923-5729, the National Intelligence Bureau at 811, Crime Stop at 311 or the nearest police station.
