Pubdate: Thu, 28 Sep 2006
Source: Jamaica Gleaner, The (Jamaica)
Copyright: 2006 The Gleaner Company Limited
Contact: http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/feedback.html
Website: http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/493
Author: Glenroy Sinclair, Staff Reporter

MEGA GANJA SEIZURE

The Narcotics police in collaboration with the Jamaica  Defence Force 
(JDF) scored another major success  Tuesday afternoon, when they 
seized over $35 million  worth of compressed ganja, one pound of hash 
oil, two  compressors and a small boat engine, during an  operation 
in East Kingston.

"This is the largest single find over the past decade,"  head of the 
Narcotics Division, Senior Superintendent  Carlton Wilson, told The 
Gleaner yesterday.

The single biggest ganja find was reportedly back in  1996 when the 
police seized over 20,000 pounds of ganja  in Clarendon, a parish 
which they still have a major  concern about.

SSP Wilson said the items were found at a house on  Elletson Lane, 
which is in close proximity to the  Elletson Road police complex. The 
officer explained  that the over 5,890 pounds of ganja was concealed 
in  several parcels and packed in 126 cardboard boxes. The  drug was 
prepared and ready for export.

Recently, Jamaica was blacklisted by United States as  one of the 
major drug-producing countries, but  according to SSP Wilson, the 
assistance from their  overseas counterparts has led to a significant 
decline  in cocaine seizures.

Major Increase In Production

"As a result of this, we have observed a major increase  in ganja 
production," said SSP Wilson.

He further explained that up to the end August this  year, his team 
had seized 41,643.86 pounds of ganja, as  against 31,741.60 seized 
last year. Pointing to other  successes, he said last year the police 
seized 56  vehicles that were involved in ganja operation, so far 
this year they have seized 58. Up to August they had  seized four 
containers, two more than what they seized  last year.

"We have intensified our eradication process," the  Narcotics Chief said.

Apart from the many seminars and lectures, educating  people about 
the dangers of drugs, the officer said the  police were able to 
destroy 20,880.20 pounds of cured  ganja up to August this year. Last 
year they destroyed  7,031.20 pounds. Since January of this year, 
they have also destroyed 282 hectares of fully grown ganja.
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MAP posted-by: Elaine