Local authorities still investigating

Oct 24, 2011 News

Jamaican Drug bust…

Just over a week after Jamaican Authorities discovered cocaine stashed in a sealed container onboard the MV Vega Azurit, a vessel which left Guyana, local authorities have stated that they are still investigating the matter.
Kaieteur News understands that officials here were following up leads that some locals may have been linked to the drug bust.
This newspaper was unable to confirm if anyone has been questioned in connection with the matter.
The discovery was made by the Jamaican Customs Contraband Enforcement Team and personnel from the Jamaican Constabulary Force.
According to sources the drug was said to have been concealed in a 40-foot refrigerated container declared as being empty.
The container was searched and five boxes labeled Coke, Pepsi and Canada Dry had the drug inside.
The drug was tested and amounted to 50 lbs of pure cocaine.
Kaieteur News was told that the vessel had been ‘under the radar’ for some time now.
The vessel is said to be registered to an Antigua and Barbuda, company.
Kaieteur News was told that the vessel had left neighbouring Suriname days before coming to Guyana.
That vessel was busted for cocaine twice before, with last month being the most recent time.
It was the same ship, MV Vega Azurit, in March, on which Jamaican authorities found 122 kilograms of cocaine in a consignment of timber from Guyana.
Several persons were questioned in Guyana in connection with that drug bust, but no charges were ever instituted.
On May 31, last the GRA, in keeping with the requirements of the International Maritime Organization for the exportation of products to the United States and other regions, announced that its US$1M Container Scanner is now fully operational since it was procured in May 2010.
The scanner was put into service on May 23, 2011, to meet the growing demand for thorough inspection of containers to ensure compliance with regulations regarding shipping to the United States of America and to halt the secreting of illicit substances with declared cargo.
Since being put into operation, some 60 containers have been scanned with one being detained for further investigations.
The GRA head noted that the container scanner significantly reduces the time taken to do an inspection, since the process is non-intrusive and will ultimately increase efficiency. The scanner will also safeguard against revenue loss.
However, owners of private wharves complained that the cost of the type of scanner that would satisfy the international standard was too exorbitant for the private sector. Guyana is considered to be a major transshipment point for cocaine.

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