By Clinton McGregor
A Latvian national and female security officer attached to Norman Manley International Airport have been charged in connection with a suspected drug trafficking ring operating from the airport.
Rihards Upenieks, a 30-year-old customer service manager from Riga, Latvia, was arrested Friday at Norman Manley International Airport after being found in possession of millions of dollars worth of cocaine.
In a statement Thursday, the Narcotics Police reported that a security guard, identified as Terica Millwood, has been charged jointly with Mr. Upenieks for drug trafficking.
It was reported that on Friday, the Latvian checked in at Norman Manley International Airport to board a UK-bound flight when he was stopped and searched.
During the search, nearly five kilogrammes of cocaine with a street value of £120,000, or more than J$20 million, was detected in his luggage.
An investigation into the seizure led to the arrest of Ms. Millwood, who was a guard at the airport.
Investigators allege that the 32-year-old woman colluded with Mr. Upenieks in an attempt to facilitate the smuggling of the cocaine through the airport.
Both were subsequently charged with Conspiracy to Export Cocaine, while Mr. Upenieks was charged with the additional offences of Possession of, Dealing in and Attempting to Export Cocaine.
They are scheduled to appear in the Kingston and St. Andrew Parish Court on Tuesday, March 21.
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