Flight attendant among two held in NMIA cocaine seizures

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Two men, including a flight attendant, have been arrested after police seized more than nine kilogrammes of cocaine in separate incidents at the Norman Manley International Airport (NMIA) on Monday.

A follow-up operation at the flight attendant’s Kingston residence also resulted in the seizure of a firearm and more than 120 rounds of ammunition.

In the first incident, about 8:00 am, the flight attendant was preparing to board a JetBlue Airways flight to New York in the United States when routine security screening revealed anomalies in his luggage.

A detailed search by detectives assigned to the Firearm and Narcotics Investigation Division (FNID) uncovered two rectangular packages containing 3.4 kilogrammes (7.5 pounds) of cocaine, with an estimated street value of $2.9 million. He was subsequently taken into custody.

About 1:30 pm, investigators conducted a follow-up operation at his Kingston residence, where they seized a licensed 9mm pistol and the over 120 rounds of ammunition.

In a separate incident, about 1:32 pm, a man arrived at the airport to board a flight to Canada when security screening revealed anomalies in his luggage.

A subsequent search uncovered 5.6 kilogrammes (12.5 pounds) of cocaine, with an estimated street value of $4.78 million. The man was also arrested.

Both men remain in police custody as investigations continue. Their identities are being withheld pending further investigations.