April 2008 Narcotics Report-Jamaica

UNCLAS KINGSTON 000587 STATE FOR INL/LP NBozzolo, KBrown, WHA/CAR Tilghman E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SNAR AFIN ASEC JM SUBJECT: April 2008 Narcotics Report-Jamaica ¶1. Summary -------------- Cocaine statistics for the period January to April indicate peaks and troughs in seizures, with upward spikes in February and April. Between February and April, one thousand six hundred and ninety seven persons were arrested and fifteen motor vehicles were seized over the same period. In April, one aircraft and a go-fast vessel were seized. The above arrests and seizures are all related to drug crimes. ¶2. Operation Buccaneer -------------- The Jamaica Defence and Constabulary Forces focused their efforts in six parishes where they destroyed 86 hectares of marijuana, 3 kilograms of seeds, 2000 units of seedlings and .028 kilograms of hashish. Drug Eradication & Seizure April 2008 Y-T-D 08 Cocaine, Kilograms 15.448 37.510 Crack Cocaine, Kilograms 0.337 .389 Marijuana Growing, Hectares 86.108 163.210 Marijuana Cured, Kilograms 626.362 7,724.310 Seeds, Kilograms 3.160 5.43 Seedlings, Units 2000 103,000 Hashish, Kilograms .028 11.849 Nurseries, Units 0 5.0 ¶3. Joint Law Enforcement Operations -------------- Three joint law enforcement operations resulted in the seizure of approximately 480 kilograms of compressed marijuana, arrests of eleven persons and the seizure of one motor vehicle and one aircraft. The first operation took place at Lollipop Beach in Bull Bay, St. Andrew where there was an exchange of gunfire between the security forces and the alleged drug traffickers. It is believed that the dealers operating in this area are part of "guns for ganja trade" that continues between Jamaica and Haiti. The second operation took place in Saint Catherine without incident. An aircraft which landed at the decommissioned Vernam Field was seized by law enforcement officers and a 29 year old Bahamian, Jimmy Johnson was charged with illegal landing and entry. No drugs were found. ¶4. Maritime Operation -------------- The Jamaica Defence Force Coast Guard seized a go-fast vessel in the Portland Bight area and 146 kilograms of compressed marijuana. ¶5. Jamaica Constabulary Force: Jamaica Fugitive Apprehension Team (JFAT) -------------- Donald Gordon and Donovan Skelton were arrested in Jamaica and Nassau Bahamas respectively. Gordon was wanted in the United States for bank robbery and Skelton for second degree murder. Gordon was extradited to the US while Skelton is awaiting extradition. Jillian Hill who was arrested in March 2008 for murder was handed over to Cobb County Sheriff's by Senior Inspector Thaddeus Lee. The table below provides a breakdown of JFAT activities: April 2008 New Cases Opened 11 Closed Cases 12 Open/Pending Cases 186 Outstanding Provisional Warrants 18 Arrest on Provisional Warrants 1 Formal Extradition Completed 2 Suspects in Custody Pending Extradition 22 REGIONAL STATISTICS New International Cases 1 Cases Closed 6 Open/Pending Cases 12 Arrests on Provisional Warrants 1 Johnson