Spike in narcotic busts this year, Senator Samuda reports

Since the start of the year 743 people have been arrested for attempting to illegally traffic narcotics in Jamaica.

Mathew Samuda, Minister without portfolio in the Ministry of National Security, revealed in the Senate on Friday that there had been multiple seizures at Jamaica's points of entry and exit with people trafficking in small quantities of drugs

According to Mr. Samuda, transnational organized crime networks are expanding and diversifying their activities, “with all sorts of attempts to breach our internal security mechanisms.”

He said the recent drug seizures had “significantly changed our annual average for narcotic busts…”

Senator Samuda spoke on the manner while piloting two companion bills in the Upper House which to allow for drug samples and photographs of evidence to be received as evidence of large exhibits in court proceedings.

He said the passage of  the bills will be significant in strengthening procedural matters relating to how drug cases are tried.