By Racquel Porter
Three airport employees and a foreign national have been arrested and charged in connection with the seizure of more than 40 pounds of cocaine at Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, St. James.
The Firearms and Narcotics Investigation Division intercepted the cocaine in two separate incidents at the airport in the last week.
On Wednesday December 11, a joint operation between FNID and the Jamaica Customs Agency Contraband Enforcement Team, dubbed 'Clean Sweep', resulted in the seizure of 28.5 pounds of cocaine with an estimated street value of close to £500,000.
Five employees were detained during the operation but three were charged.
They are: Ramp agent Rushen Powell, 36, otherwise called 'Romie', of Norwood, St. James; lead ramp agent Leroy Jones, 62, otherwise call 'Rata', of Mount Salem in St. James; and ramp agent Ojay Simpson, 35, of Salt Marsh, Trelawny.
Powell, Jones and Simpson have been charged with possession of cocaine, dealing in cocaine, attempting to export cocaine, and conspiracy to export cocaine.
In the meantime, female British citizen Salha Suleiman was arrested and charged after cocaine weighing 12 pounds was discovered in her luggage at the airport.
She was subsequently charged with possession of cocaine and taking steps to export cocaine.
The significant bust followed an extensive investigation into insider threats within the airport environment.
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