Men held in drug bust at sea released - Cops reveal error in initial report on find

Four men held in connection with a massive drug find at sea were yesterday released by cops as the Corporate Communications Unit (CCU) of the Jamaica Constabulary Force revealed it had erred in reporting that they had been "observed" abandoning the vessel carrying the contraband.

On Saturday, the CCU said the men were detained during a police-military operation in Belmont district, Westmoreland, after law enforcers intercepted the vessel carrying 36 bales of cocaine valued just under J$1 billion (US$7.5 million).

"Four men who were observed abandoning the vessel and running off in different directions were pursued and taken into custody," a CCU spokesman had said in the release on Saturday.

REPORT NOT ACCURATE

However, in a release yesterday afternoon, the CCU indicated that its initial report was not accurate.

Quoting from the actual incident report, the CCU instead said: "Approximately 1 a.m., a joint police and military team, which included the Jamaica Defence Force Air Wing and Coastguard teams, intercepted a blue 28-foot vessel which was spotted coming ashore at Belmont.

"On the approach of security personnel to the vessel, men aboard the vessel abandoned it and ran in different directions. Four men were subsequently held."

The CCU also said yesterday that the four men were "duly processed" and interviewed in the presence of their lawyer and later released as investigators were reasonably satisfied that the evidence available did not link them to the seizure.

The CCU said it regretted the error and any inconvenience that may have been caused.