Flight attendant charged for allegedly attempting to smuggle cocaine at Kingston airport

A flight attendant has been charged for allegedly attempting to smuggle cocaine hidden in his luggage at the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston.

Troy Ingleton, 49, a dual citizen of Jamaica and the United States of America, was charged on Wednesday with possession of cocaine, dealing in cocaine, attempting to export cocaine, and conspiracy to export cocaine.

The police say other charges are pending against him.

He is scheduled to appear before the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court on Tuesday, October 20.

The alleged seizure was made on Monday.

The police report that at about 8:00 a.m., the man was scheduled to board a JetBlue Airways flight destined for New York, USA, when anomalies were detected in his luggage during routine security screening.

They say personnel from the Firearm and Narcotics Investigation Division (FNID) conducted a detailed search of his luggage, during which a pouch containing two rectangular packages of cocaine, weighing 3.4 kilogrammes or 7.5 pounds, was found.

According to the police, the illicit drug has an estimated street value of $2.9 million.

The flight attendant was subsequently taken into custody.

Following his arrest, FNID investigators conducted a follow-up operation at his Kingston residence.

The police say that during a search of the premises, a licensed nine-millimetre pistol and more than 120 rounds of ammunition were seized.

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