Large drug seizures not an indication of cocaine epidemic - police

The head of the Police Narcotics Division, Senior Superintendent McArthur Sutherland, says there is no indication that Jamaica is returning to the cocaine epidemic of the 1990s.

The assertion comes amid reports that just over 759 pounds of cocaine, with a street value of over $413 million, have been seized by the police this year.

But according to Sutherland, only a very small percentage is for personal use.

He says the increased drug seizures this year is the result of the robust measures put in place by the police to track members of the criminal underworld who are involved in the drug trade.

Sutherland says his division is very focused on what is happening in the illicit drug trade and has put measures in place to ensure every investigative leads are followed.