Eight American tourists arrested in Jamaica for nearly $1 Million in cocaine

By Sherrica Thompson

Staff Writer

#Jamaica, November 14, 2022 – Eight American cruise ship passengers were arrested on Wednesday, November 9, in Jamaica after allegedly attempting to leave the country with cocaine valued at more than JMD 130 million, about 850,000 US dollars.

According to reports from the Jamaica Constabulary Force’s Corporate Communications Unit (CCU), the eight cruise line passengers arrived in Ocho Rios, St Ann, from Miami, Florida, on Wednesday and disembarked the vessel.

Reports are that at around 1:30 p.m. the eight passengers were re-boarding the vessel for departure when anomalies were detected in their luggage.

During a search by members of the Narcotics Division, a total of 24 packages containing cocaine weighing just over 17 kilograms (38 pounds) were found concealed in their bags.

The passengers were arrested for breaches of the Dangerous Drugs Act. The police have withheld the identities of the individuals pending further investigations.

The Jamaican police believe the Americans are part of a transnational drug trafficking syndicate operating between the United States and Jamaica.