By Glenroy Sinclair, Staff Reporter
Detective Sergeants Glenford Buckle (right) and Roland Robinson examine a large quantity of mail containing cocaine and compressed ganja, which were intercepted at the Central Sorting Office (CSO) in Kingston, yesterday. - Norman Grindley /Staff Photographer
MORE THAN 80 parcels containing cocaine and compressed ganja were intercepted by narcotics detectives yesterday at the Central Sorting Office (CSO) in Kingston as drug traffickers target the mailing system.
According to the narcotics police, intelligence had suggested that because of the tighter measures now implemented at the island's ports, the traffickers are again targeting the mailing system. Thus the Central Sorting Office has been under surveillance for the past two weeks.
"We are now looking at the most vulnerable post offices islandwide," said Detective Sergeant Glenford Buckle, the Crime Analyst at the Narcotics Division.
CONCEALED IN BOOKS
The drugs were packed and hidden in some novel ways, a portion was concealed in books and picture frames, while the bulk of it was smartly wrapped in carbon paper, covered over with cellophane tape and placed in large envelopes, with multiple postal stamps.
"Most of the envelopes were going to addresses in the United Kingdom, some were also going to the United States and other Caribbean destinations," said Det. Sgt. Buckle.
The officer also said some of the mail were coming from addresses in Kingston, uptown St. Andrew and western Jamaica. Further reports are that, in some cases, up to eight envelopes had the same addresses.
"For example, the envelope with the cocaine came from an address in Kingston 6," said Mr. Buckle.
Preliminary investigations have revealed that the local addresses used were fictitious. According to the police, the weed seized, which weighed about 150 pounds, has a street value of $1.6-million. The cocaine weighed about 1.6 kilograms.
While they are conducting further investigations into the individual cases, the lawmen believe a group of Kingston-based men could be responsible for the illegal smuggling.
"We are expecting to make a breakthrough soon," the sub-officer said.
He said there is no evidence at the moment to suggest that staff members at the CSO were involved. The Gleaner understands that some of the mail containing drugs, which slipped through the system, have since turned up in the Cayman Island.
