Senior cops targeted in cocaine probe

Nearly a dozen high-ranking police officers and soldiers are reportedly being targeted in a widening narcotics investigation linked to the seizure of cocaine from a police storage facility in January.

Sources told The Gleaner that investigators are also seeking to determine whether law enforcement personnel significantly under-reported the quantity of cocaine seized during an earlier operation in western Jamaica.

Two “illegal” parcels of cocaine were discovered inside a storage facility at the now-disbanded Counter Terrorism and Organised Crime Division (C-TOC) in January following an internal audit, according to the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF).

The discovery triggered a high-level investigation. Weeks later, Police Commissioner Dr Kevin Blake transferred more than 40 police officers assigned to the division.

The investigation became public on Wednesday when agents from the Major Organised and Anti-Corruption Agency (MOCA) searched the St Andrew home of a senior officer formerly assigned to C-TOC, according to multiple sources.

The officer was reportedly taken in handcuffs to two other locations in St Andrew and Clarendon, where searches were also conducted.

MOCA confirmed that its agents were executing search and seizure warrants at several locations across the Corporate Area as part of an ongoing investigation.

However, MOCA director of communications Major Basil Jarrett declined to disclose further details.

“Due to the sensitive nature of the investigations and today’s operations, I am unable to divulge any additional details, except to say that the public will be apprised of more as soon as we are in a position to safely and responsibly do so,” Jarrett said.

The audit of the C-TOC storage facility followed the arrest of Police Inspector Martin Walker, who was assigned to the division.

The JCF said a quantity of cocaine was allegedly found in Walker’s private vehicle during an operation on January 8.

(The Gleaner)