KINGSTON, Jamaica—A St James man has been arrested and charged in connection with major narcotics seizures at the Kingston Freeport Terminal last month.

The accused is 56-year-old Roderick Spence of Westgate Hill, Montego Bay, St James.

The charges stem from a joint operation conducted by the Firearms and Narcotics Investigation Division (FNID) and the Jamaica Customs Agency (JCA) at the Kingston Freeport Terminal at about 4:30 pm on August 7.

During the operation, FNID and JCA personnel inspected a shipping container destined for the United States. The search yielded 103 parcels of cocaine and 123 parcels of ganja, which have an estimated street value of over $71 million.

Spence was taken into police custody on Monday, September 7 and charged following a formal interview.

He has been charged with possession of cocaine, dealing in cocaine, attempting to export cocaine, conspiracy to export cocaine, possession of ganja, dealing in ganja, attempting to export ganja and conspiracy to export ganja.

According to the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), the arrest marks the latest breakthrough following a series of targeted operations carried out at the terminal between August 5 and August 7.

It noted that the operations initially resulted in the arrest of eight individuals and the seizure of over 2000 kilograms of cocaine and a quantity of ganja.

Those eight suspects have since been released on pre-charge bail while investigations continue.

Spence is scheduled to appear before the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court on Wednesday, September 16, to answer the charges.

READ: Kingston Container Terminal employees arrested as police probe $1 billion cocaine bust