KINGSTON, Jamaica, Aug 20, CMC -Jamaica police have formally charged five people, including a 72-year-old person, in connection with the biggest cocaine bust in the country’s history.
Poloce said that 72-year-old Junior Aldayne, 57-year-old Clive Roy Davis, 58-year-old Collin Ricketts, 51-year-old George Sterling, and 42-year-old Clayton Peart, were officially charged last Friday in connection with J$12 billion (One Jamaica dollar=US$0.008 cents) cocaine bust in St. Andrew.
Deputy Commissioner of Police, Fitz Bailey in a statement Monday, said they have all been charged with possession of cocaine, dealing in cocaine, trafficking cocaine, and conspiracy.
“On Tuesday, August 6, 2024, members of the Firearms and Narcotics Division within the Counter-Terrorism and Organised Crime Branch executed a raid at 2 Riverside Drive, Kingston 19, which resulted in the seizure of a large quantity of cocaine and the arrest of five male Jamaican nationals.
“During the operation, a Toyota Hiace motor vehicle and a two storey concrete dwelling were searched when the police discovered several knitted bags containing packages with white powdery substance suspected to be cocaine,” Bailey said, adding that the drugs weighed 2,526 kilogrammes and had an estimated street value of just over US$75 million.
Each of the accused men was interviewed in the presence of their attorney. They remain in police custody and await the finalisation of a court date.
Bailey said the Firearms and Narcotics Investigations Division along with local, regional and international partners are continuing investigation into the matter and are actively pursuing other leads to further dismantle other criminal networks.
He said that the law enforcement authorities are continuing to make impact on illicit firearms and drugs trafficking, adding that since the start of 2024 the division has seized 86 illegal firearm, 1,154 rounds of ammunition, 20,074 kilograms of ganja, and approximately 67 kilogrammes of cocaine with an estimated street value of just over two million US dollars.
“This figure does not include the most recent cocaine bust. Significant gains are being made in terms of the arrest of persons for drug offences. A total of 168 individuals have been arrested since the beginning of 2024; this includes 147 Jamaicans, eight Americans, five British, two Hungarians, one Dutch, one Argentinian, one French, one Haitian, one Canadian, and one Nicaraguan,” Bailey said.
“The Jamaica Constabulary Force will continue to pursue individuals and syndicates engaging in the illicit firearms and narcotics trade, having regards to the nexus between drug trafficking, firearms trafficking and violence,” Bailey added.
CMC/ad/ir/2024