Although the possession of small quantities of marijuana (ganja) has been de-criminalised, the possession and trafficking of large quantities is still being prosecuted. Today, the police announced the seizure of 1,000 pounds of marijuana that were found in 2 shipping containers, bound for Suriname and the Netherlands.
From the Observer:
Reports are that about 9:00 am, security personnel were unable to locate a particular container and a search ensued. The narcotics police were summoned and upon locating the container, it was found to contain six rectangular parcels with ganja totalling approximately 73.8 pounds. The container arrived in the island on Friday, August 7, from the United States of America and was destined for the Netherlands.
This led investigators to another container, which had 10 large duffle bags. A search of the bags revealed 262 parcels of compressed ganja amounting to approximately1022.5 pounds. The container arrived in Jamaica on Sunday, July 26, from China and was scheduled to depart for Suriname.
A total of 1096.3 pounds of ganja, with an estimated street value of J$2.7 million was seized.
– Curated from the Jamaica Observer
KINGSTON, Jamaica (AP) — Jamaican narcotics agents have seized a load of marijuana found hidden in two shipping containers at wharves in the Caribbean island’s capital.
In a Sunday statement, Jamaican police say investigators found 10 duffel bags stuffed with over 1,000 pounds of compressed marijuana in a shipping container destined for Suriname. Another container destined for the Netherlands had nearly 75 pounds of pot.
No arrests were made.
Jamaica is believed to be the Caribbean’s largest producer and exporter of pot. Plants are grown mostly on the sides of mountains, swampy areas or hidden among other crops.
Drug law amendments earlier this year partially decriminalized the possession of small amounts of pot in Jamaica. But authorities have not softened their stance on transnational drug trafficking or cultivation of illegal marijuana plots.
