WESTERN BUREAU:A MAKESHIFT airstrip which the police said was being used for drug smuggling, was destroyed by Jamaica Defence Force personnel in Greenwood, St. James, yesterday.
The exercise, which was carried out through Operation Kingfish, saw 600 metres of land space being destroyed by explosives. Following the blast, about 10 craters measuring between 45 and 50 feet wide and as much as 35 feet deep, were left behind. Sergeant Steve Brown, Information Officer for Operation Kingfish, said the move to destroy the illegal airstrip was part of efforts to "put a dent in the illegal drug trade."
He said this was the first of many airstrips that will be destroyed across the island. He, however, refused to indicate where similar airstrips were located.
DRUG TRAFFICKERS
"This same airstrip (at Greenwood) was destroyed by JDF personnel some 15 years ago and the guys (drug traffickers) fixed it," Brown said, adding that "we will be monitoring them very closely."
Sergeant Brown, the Con-stabulary Communication Net-work's liaison officer with Operation Kingfish, said the police had received written permission from the owner of the property to conduct the exercise.
