ST MARY, Jamaica — Three men have been arrested and charged following the seizure of more than 3,000 pounds of ganja in Toms River at the border of St Mary and St Andrew last Friday.

Police say the arrests come as the Jamaica Constabulary Force  continues to clamp down on the illicit trade of guns for drugs.

Charged are 50-year-old Heron Brown, a farmer of Burton district, St Elizabeth; 30-year-old Wade Richards, a vendor of Thompson Pen, St Catherine and 28-year-old Delroy Wilson of Margarets Bay, Portland.

All three men were charged with two counts of possession of ganja, two counts of dealing in ganja, two counts of taking steps preparatory to export ganja, two counts of trafficking ganja and conspiracy to traffic ganja.

Reports from police are that about 9:00 pm Friday, members of the Firearms and Narcotics Investigation Division (FNID) Special Operations Team intercepted two motor vehicles in Toms River.

One of the vehicles was occupied by Wilson and two Haitian nationals, while the other men occupied the other vehicle. A thorough search of the vehicles allegedly uncovered more than 350 parcels of ganja, with an estimated street value of $9.3 million.

All five men were arrested and Brown, Richards and Wilson were subsequently charged.

Charges are to be laid against the two Haitian nationals who were also arrested in the incident.

Police say since the start of the year, over 40,000 pounds of ganja have been seized, valued at $121 million. Additionally, more than 1700 pounds of cocaine, valued at more than $405 million have been intercepted.

Director of FNID, Acting Senior Superintendent of Police Patrae Rowe, said that these large-scale findings of illicit drugs have a direct correlation to the guns-for-drugs trade impacting the island.

“These drugs act as currency to arm criminals with weapons. The value of the drugs seized so far this year is more than $500 million. If not intercepted, this could have potentially placed more than 400 rifles or over 800 handguns into the hands of hardened criminals in Jamaica. That is why we have heightened vigilance and have enhanced our operations surrounding these drugs; they are traded for the weapons of choice in committing murders — firearms.”

Meanwhile, Rowe is once again appealing to citizens to share information on illegal drugs and firearms by contacting the FNID at 876-923-6184, Crime Stop at 311, the National Intelligence Bureau at 811, the police 119 emergency number or the nearest police station.