The disclosure was made by Superintendent Jervis Moore, head of the Narcotics Division of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), at a special internal briefing held at the Narcotics Headquarters in Kingston on Wednesday.

Officials from the Narcotics Division also outlined that over the last year, there has been a significant increase in the number of drug seizures and arrests of people involved in drug running.

According to the police high command the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston has been one of the areas where a number of persons have been arrested for the mentioned drug crimes.

Police statistics show that from January to June 2022 a total of seven persons were arrested in comparison to eight this year.

Additionally, there was an increase in cocaine seizures from 206 cases in 2022 to 1,610 in 2023.

As it relates to Ganja seizures, data showed a January to June reduction from 9002 to 8771.

A total of forty-one rounds of ammunition were seized from January to June of 2022 compared to 82 this year. 

Additionally, one firearm was seized last year compared to four so far in 2023 at the airport.

Over at the Sangster International Airport, the Narcotics Division arrested two persons between January to June, last year in comparison to 12 so far this year.

The latest arrest was 49-year-old Gairy Graham, a delivery driver of Robinson Town in Thornton, St. Elizabeth on Thursday, June 08.

Graham was charged with several breaches of the Drug Act after he was found in possession of cocaine valued over JMD 28 million.

 Police said they continue to work relentlessly to rid the nation’s streets of persons found in breach of these crimes.