Police have charged a Latvian national who was accused of attempting to smuggle cocaine out of the island through the Norman Manley International Airport last Friday.

A female security officer who works at the airport was charged along with the Latvian after she was accused of facilitating the crime, the police reported.

Rihards Upenieks, a 30-year-old customer service manager from Riga, Latvia, was charged along with Terica Millwood, 32.

Upenieks and Millwood are jointly charged with conspiracy to export cocaine, but the Latvian has been slapped with additional charges of possession, dealing and attempting to export cocaine.

They are booked to appear before the Kingston and St. Andrew Parish Court next Tuesday, March 21, 2023.

Police had reported that about 7:50 pm, Upenieks was attempting to board a departing flight to the UK when he was stopped and interviewed by Narcotics officers.

During a subsequent search, cocaine weighing approximately 4.4 kg was found concealed among the items he was carrying.

The drug, which carries a street value of approximately £120 000, was seized and Upenieks detained on reasonable suspicion of breaches of the Dangerous Drugs Act.

An ensuing investigation led to Millwood’s arrest after it was discovered that she was reportedly working in collusion with the Latvian.