Jamaican authorities have revised the estimated value of cocaine seized, from a ship at the port of Kingston, from US$50 million (J$7 billion) to US$80 million (J$12 billion) in one of the nation’s biggest-ever drug busts.

The shipment was discovered on Saturday inside a cargo ship from South America, according to a statement from the Jamaica Constabulary Force.

JAMAICA A HUB FOR MOVEMENT OF WEAPONS, DRUGS

The search of the cargo ship yielded more than 1,500 kilograms (3,306 lbs) of cocaine, the police said. The goods were split into 50 bags containing 1,250 packages, the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) said in a separate statement.

Transnational criminal organisations have long used Jamaica as a hub to move weapons and drugs, including sending cocaine to North America and Europe.

NO ARRESTS MADE

The JDF said it would keep fighting against criminals who seek to “take advantage of Jamaica’s geo-strategic significance in world trade by exploiting legitimate cargo”.

Neither the police nor the JDF named the ship found to be carrying the cocaine and no arrests have been made.

In October, global police agency Interpol said Jamaican authorities had made a record bust of 500 kilograms of cocaine, worth around US$25 million, slated to be shipped on a private jet to Canada.

READ: UPDATE: J$7-billion drug bust this morning