Massive Drug Bust at Kingston Freeport Terminal Worth Approximately JA$7 Billion

Law enforcement officers can hold their heads high after intercepting a large amount of cocaine this morning at the Kingston Freeport Terminal.

In a report by the Jamaica Observer, the seizure was a joint operation by the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) Narcotics Division, the Jamaica Customs Agency, and the Jamaica Defense Force (JDF).

Cocaine is a highly addictive stimulant drug that, for a very long time, was ingested for its stimulant effects. The purified form of the substance was isolated from a plant approximately a century ago, in the early 1900s, as it was the main ingredient for many tonics and elixirs.

Today, cocaine is a Schedule II drug, which means that it has an extremely high rate of abuse if administered incorrectly by someone without a medical license, as stated by the National Institute on Drug Abuse’s website.

Accounts say that the illegal substance that was found at the port is estimated to weigh within the hundreds; it is also stated that it was hidden on a vessel that originated from Columbia on Friday. According to reports, the value of the discovery could be in the region of US$50 million, which equates to J$7.1 billion.

The operation began just two hours before midnight last night and is still ongoing. Based on information garnered from Jamaica Customs and family members of the police officers that took part in the operation, to ensure the integrity of the items arriving at the port and the ones that are already there, the operation will be extended for a longer period.