The Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) Coast Guard on Thursday seized 764.9 pounds of compressed marijuana when it intercepted a vessel off the coast of Westmoreland.

Three men, one Jamaican and two Haitians, were held in connection with the seizure.

The JDF Coast Guard says a patrol team was conducting routine patrols off the coast of Westmoreland when they spotted a blue motor-vessel acting in a suspicious manner.

The Coast Guard team approached the vessel and the men were spotted throwing a number of packages overboard.

They recovered the five packages thrown overboard and another 11 aboard the vessel during a search.

“A number of containers with over 150 gallons of fuel were also seized. The men have been handed over to the narcotics police for processing, while the marijuana was weighed and similarly processed,” the JDF Coast Guard said.

“Yesterday’s seizure and arrest are strongly suspected to be connected to the ongoing guns-for-drugs trade between Jamaican and Haitian criminals,” it said further.

Note: A previous version of this story stated that the Coast Guard seized 765 pounds of compressed marijuana and arrested one Haitian and two Jamaicans in connection with the seizure.

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