Two Nicaraguans and a Jamaican were arrested after being found with over 1,400 pounds of ganja and a fishing vessel off the coast of Westmoreland on Monday.[1] The three men aboard the vessel were arrested during the operation.[1] Their identities have not been revealed.[1] The three suspects were detained on reasonable suspicion while FNID investigators pursued charges under the Dangerous Drugs Act and the Criminal Justice (Suppression of Criminal Organizations) Act.[1]

A pre-dawn operation by the Firearms and Narcotics Investigation Division (FNID), supported by the Jamaica Defence Force Coast Guard, intercepted the fishing vessel off Westmoreland and searched it.[1] During the search officers found 1,480 pounds (672.6 kilograms) of the drug.[1]

FNID head Senior Superintendent Samuel Blake said the interdiction underscored the constabulary’s growing intelligence capabilities for pursuing organised firearms and narcotics traffickers and the value of collaboration.[1] Blake said the seizure potentially prevented the influx of prohibited weapons into Jamaica, describing the syndicate’s method as exchanging narcotics for firearms, specifically AK-47 rifles.[1]