Pubdate: Wed, 22 May 2002
Source: Oldham Evening Chronicle (UK)
Copyright: Oldham Evening Chronicle 2002
Contact:  http://www.oldham-chronicle.co.uk/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1151

SECURITY TIGHTENED ON JAMAICAN FLIGHTS IN CRACKDOWN ON DRUG 'MULES'

SECURITY will be tightened at Manchester Airport to catch drug mules 
smuggling in soaring amounts of cocaine from Jamaica.

The government today announced a AUKP2 million plan to send extra Customs 
and Excise officers to major airports in a bid to shut off the lucrative route.

The flexible strike force is expected to concentrate on Manchester, 
Heathrow and Gatwick, where the problem is particularly acute

It is part of a three-pronged strategy which will also improve co-operation 
between British and Jamaican authorities and between police and Customs and 
Excise.

Police in Jamaica will be given training and new scanning equipment to 
catch the couriers flying in from Kingston and Montego Bay.

In the future, Jamaican officers could even be stationed at Manchester and 
other major airports to help spot suspected mules.

A government source told the Evening Chronicle: Manchester, Heathrow and 
Gatwick are the three prime targets.

"If there is an intelligence report that more people are going to be coming 
through a particular airport, then the strike force will be able to go 
there to deal with it."

In January, Phil Sinkinson, deputy high commissioner in Jamaica, claimed 
one-in-10 passengers leaving for Britain was a drug mule.

He said up to 30kg (66lb) of cocaine was being smuggled on every flight by 
passengers who had swallowed plastic bags or condoms

The number of visitors to Britain from the Caribbean has nearly tripled in 
the last decade, with 1.7 million journeys made last year.

Police have been demanding more resources to enable Customs officials to 
step up checks on passengers arriving from Jamaica at the three main airports.

It follows claims "fiercely denied by Customs and Excise" that mules who 
have swallowed cocaine-filled condoms are simply walking through unchecked.

The strategy will get underway next month, after research revealed that the 
Jamaican route was bringing in around half of Britain's crack cocaine.

It was being officially signed today by treasury minister Paul Boateng at a 
ceremony at the Jamaican High Commission in London.
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