Pubdate: Mon, 12 Aug 2002 Source: Jamaica Observer (Jamaica) Contact: 2002 The Jamaica Observer Ltd, Website: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1127 Author: Byron Buckley FEWER DRUG SWALLOWERS Ion Scans Dent Narcotics Trade MANCHESTER, England -- Anthony Cowles, who heads Air Jamaica's operation in Europe, says there has been a dramatic fall in the number of cocaine swallowers travelling on the airline since the installation of IonScan drug detection machines at Jamaica's two international airports. "There have been very few cases since those scanners were introduced in June," Cowles told reporters at the weekend. "The Ion scanners have been proven to be very efficient and effective weapons in the war against drug trafficking," he added. No figures were immediately available, however, on the number of people on flights from Jamaica who have been held at British airports on suspicion of swallowing cocaine. Jamaica, because of its geography, has emerged as a major transshipment point for cocaine from South America, heading for North America and Europe, and US and Jamaican experts have estimated that up to 10 per cent of Colombia's cocaine passes through the island. Drug smuggling has proved a major problem for Air Jamaica, which operates two flights weekly to Manchester in the English Midlands and nine weekly flights to London's Heathrow airport. Several drug mules took these flights and Air Jamaica and Jamaica were ridiculed in the British tabloid press, including an article in the Daily Mirror that branded Air Jamaica "Cocaine Air". Jamaican officials insisted that the portrayals were unfair, failing to take into account the international nature of the drug trade and the fact that other airlines, including British Airways, also battled with the problem. "Other carriers were involved and had as much problems as Air Jamaica, but they picked on this airline," Cowles said. In recent months, Jamaica and Britain have strengthened their co-operation in the fight against narcotics in a programme that has included the signing of a bilateral agreement and an exchange of visits by senior Jamaican and British government and law enforcement officials. It is out of these agreements that the UK helped Jamaica acquire the IonScan machines being used at the Norman Manley and Sangster international airports in Kingston and Montego Bay respectively, and sent experts here to operate them and to train Jamaicans. The machines are able to detect trace amounts of cocaine or other substances they have been calibrated to match, thereby increasing the likelihood that people who have been in contact with drugs will be held. According to Jamaican officials, since the machines have been in place, more than 80 suspected swallowers have been held at the airports. Jamaica's outgoing high commissioner to the UK, David Muirhead, has welcomed the impact that the machines, as well as other measures being pursued here, have had on the problem and in lifting the image of Jamaica in Britain. "The IonScan machines and other measures that have been taken in Jamaica in order to address this drug courier problem are having quite a favourable impact and there is less in the press adverse in that regard than hitherto," said Muirhead. British press, he said, was now portraying Jamaica in a "fair and balanced light" following the recent visit of British officials to the island to meet with local law enforcement officials. He noted, too, that the island was favourably portrayed by the British media in reports on the country's 40th anniversary of Independence. Air Jamaica's Cowles also agreed that British press coverage on Jamaica has improved. "The reporters now really don't have any story because it's just about over," he said. - --- MAP posted-by: Doc-Hawk