Three men charged in $9.3 million ganja bust in Toms River, charges pending against Haitian men

The police are reporting that three men have been arrested and charged following the seizure of 3,000 pounds of ganja, valued at $9.3 million, in Toms River, located at the border of St Mary and St Andrew.

They have described the seizure as another step forward in the clampdown on the illicit guns-for-drugs trade.

At the same time, charges are pending against two Haitian men who were also taken into custody.

Charged with two counts each of possession of ganja, dealing in ganja, taking steps preparatory to export ganja, trafficking ganja, and conspiracy to traffic ganja are 50-year-old Heron Brown, a farmer of Burton district, St Elizabeth, 30-year-old Wade Richards, a vendor of Thompson Pen, St Catherine and 28-year-old Delroy Wilson of St Margaret's Bay, Portland.

The police report that around 9:00 p.m. on July 18, members of the Firearms and Narcotics Investigation Division (FNID) Special Operations Team intercepted two motor vehicles in Toms River.

According to the police, one of the vehicles was occupied by Wilson and the two Haitians, while the remaining men were in the second vehicle.

A thorough search of the vehicles reportedly uncovered over 350 parcels of ganja.

All five men were arrested, with Brown, Richards, and Wilson subsequently charged.

The police stated that this latest seizure forms part of a broader, ongoing effort by the constabulary force to disrupt criminal networks.

Since the start of the year, over 40,000 pounds of ganja, valued at $121 million, have been seized.

Additionally, more than 1,700 pounds of cocaine, valued at over $405 million, have also been intercepted.

Acting Senior Superintendent Patrae Rowe, Director of the FNID, noted that these large-scale drug seizures are directly linked to the guns-for-drugs trade affecting the island.

“These drugs act as currency to arm criminals with weapons. The value of the drugs seized so far this year exceeds $500 million.

"If not intercepted, this could have potentially placed more than 400 rifles or over 800 handguns into the hands of hardened criminals in Jamaica. That is why we have heightened vigilance and enhanced our operations surrounding these drugs; they are traded for the weapons of choice in committing murders — firearms.”

Rowe is again appealing to the public to share information on illegal drugs and firearms by contacting the FNID at 876-923-6184, Crime Stop at 311, the National Intelligence Bureau at 811, the police 119 emergency number, or the nearest police station.

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