St James businessman arrested after held with 19 parcels of cocaine

A St James businessman of an Irwin address in the parish was taken into police custody on Saturday (July 4).

A St James businessman of an Irwin address in the parish was taken police custody on Saturday (July 4).

According to police, the arrest of the businessman follows a string of operations that saw the seizure of millions of dollars’ worth of cocaine and a large sum of cash on the weekend.

Reports are that about 11:00 p.m., on Saturday the businessman was driving an Isuzu motor truck along the Salem main road in St. Ann when lawmen signalled him to stop. 

He complied and his motor truck was searched and it is alleged that 19 parcels of cocaine, weighing approximately 45 pounds, were found, as well as JMD 86, 000 and USD 1,400.

The illicit drugs—which have an estimated street value of JMD 26 million—the cash and the motor truck, along with the suspect’s licensed firearm, were seized.

On the heels of that seizure, the police conducted a secondary operation at the businessman’s home in Irwin, St. James on Sunday (July 5) and large quantities of cash, in local and US currency were found and seized. 

In addition forty-four, 9mm cartridges, and several vehicles were also seized.