The police are reporting that eight cruise ship passengers were taken into custody on Wednesday after a large quantity of coacine was seized in Ocho Rios, St Ann.
The narcotics police say thus is a major disruption of a transnational drug trafficking syndicate, operating between the United States and Jamaica.
The Corporate Communications Unit (CCU) reported that the eight US nationals disembarked a vessel that arrived in Ocho Rios from Miami, Florida, early Wednesday.
About 1:30 pm, when they were re-boarding the vessel for departure, anomalies were detected in their luggage.
During a search by members of the narcotics division, 24 packages containing cocaine weighing over 17 kilograms or 38 pounds, with an estimated street value of US$850,000, were found concealed in their bags.
The passengers were arrested for breaches of the Dangerous Drugs Act.
The police say their identities are being withheld pending further investigations.
