Mikael Phillips, vice president of the People’s National Party and Member of Parliament for Manchester North Western, has sought to distance himself from the arrest of his elder brother in a major cocaine bust at the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston on Monday.

READ: Police say relative of prominent J’can nabbed in airport cocaine bust

In a statement on Wednesday, Phillips said: “I have been informed that a person arrested at the Norman Manley International Airport on Monday in connection with breaches of the Dangerous Drugs Act is my elder brother, of the half-blood and who has not resided in Jamaica for over 30 years.

“We are both sons of the late Mrs Minion Phillips and have never resided together as brothers,” Phillips said, adding “I am aware of social postings which have resulted in me being called by friends concerning the matter and hence I have decided to make a public statement setting out all the information I have concerning it. The issue is unrelated to me and therefore I am and remain unconnected to it. I am not the subject of any investigation and have no reason to be involved with it.”

A release from the constabulary’s Corporate Communications Unit said approximately 12 kilogrammes of cocaine with an estimated street value of over US$600,000 (about $92 million) was seized during security checks after anomalies were detected in a blue suitcase destined for the United States.

A police source disclosed to the Jamaica Observer that the would-be passenger who was scheduled to depart on a JetBlue flight to Fort Lauderdale attempted to check in “a suitcase loaded with cocaine”.

After being identified by airline agents at the boarding gate, the suspect managed to slip away while waiting to be escorted for his suitcase to be checked.

He left the location and departed the airport before he was held by the police, the source said.