MOCA ARRESTS SEVEN IN MAJOR MONTEGO BAY DRUG BUST

MOCA Agent arresting one of six suspected drugs trafficker in Montego Bay on July 9, 2023.

The Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency (MOCA), supported by detectives from the Counter-Terrorism and Organized Crime Investigation Branch (CTOC) and the JCF Narcotics Division, last night carried out a joint anti-narcotics operation in St James and Hanover resulting in the arrest of seven persons, including three suspected drug traffickers.

The seven persons have been taken into custody for interview and processing ahead of being formally charged. According to reports, a team of MOCA agents and JCF personnel went to a premises in Montego Bay in search of a suspected drug trafficker who was wanted for questioning in connection with multiple local and international drug trafficking offenses. During the operation, the individual and six other persons were arrested pending further investigations.

Approximately 9kgs of cocaine sealed in unsuspected packages.

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/8f07ce_65ba476df6b042868c8e1789adf9ab5a/360p/mp4/file.mp4

During a search of the premises, approximately 9kgs of cocaine with a local street value of approximately $14M Jamaican dollars was found, along with a large quantity of cash, a number of electronic devices and a motor vehicle. All seven persons were later taken into custody for further processing.

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According to Major Basil Jarrett, Director of Communications at MOCA, “the collaborative efforts between MOCA, CTOC, the Police Narcotics and the JCF’s Technical Services Division, were instrumental in this operation. It shows the strength of the partnership between the agencies in the fight against major organized crime and the shared commitment towards dismantling trans-national criminal networks.”

Major Jarrett also emphasized the importance of community engagement and public support, and encouraged citizens to report any information related to organized crime and corruption to MOCA’s tip hotline at 888-MOCA-TIP. The information provided by the public plays a crucial role in assisting law enforcement agencies to address organized crime effectively.