ST ANDREW, Jamaica— A truck driver and a teenage girl were arrested and charged following the seizure of a large quantity of ganja in Stony Hill, St Andrew on Friday, July 29.

They are 57-year-old Melton Blackwood, otherwise called ‘Blacks’, of Waltham Park Road, Kingston 11 and a 16-year-old girl.

Reports are that about 2:45 pm during a joint operation by members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force’s Narcotics Division and the St Andrew North Division, a white Isuzu motor truck was intercepted along St Christopher’s main road, in the parish. The truck was searched and approximately 1,500 pounds of compressed ganja were found. The drug has a street value of close to US$2 million (J$300 million). Blackwood was also found with cash amounting to over J$70, 000.

On completion of the investigations, Blackwood and the girl were both charged with the offences of:

1. Possession of ganja

2. Dealing in ganja

3. Trafficking ganja

4. Taking steps preparatory to exporting ganja; and

5. Possession of criminal property.

Blackwood was placed in a Kingston-based police lock-up while the girl was placed in state care while they await their appearance before the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court on Monday, August 8.