The People’s National Party’s (PNP) junior spokesperson on national security and defence, Jouvaughnie Byfield, is recommending increased surveillance of Jamaica’s airspace following reports that remains of a small airplane were found at an illegal landing strip in St Elizabeth that is notorious for the trafficking of illicit drugs.

The mysterious dual-engine plane that crashed at an illegal landing strip in Elim, St Elizabeth, on January 5, has sparked concern among the public, prompting the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) to open an investigation.

Byfield said that this and other similar incidents have proven that Jamaica continues to serve as a transit point or destination for illegal drugs and other contraband.

“The crash landings underscore the pressing need for enhanced surveillance, control, and enforcement strategies to safeguard our airspace. The current loopholes in our systems have allowed unauthorised aircraft to exploit vulnerabilities and compromise our aviation safety and national security,” he shared.

The junior shadow security minister is calling on the Holness administration to set out a clear and effective policy response, so that all sectors of society can be reassured about the safety and effective control of Jamaica’s airspace.

He stressed that the illicit flights represent a risk to commercial aviation in Jamaica as well as the potential to facilitate drug and gun smuggling, human trafficking, and terrorism.

Byfield further noted that efforts by the police to uncover any information about the passengers, or the contraband that was aboard at the time of the crash, have been unsuccessful. This, he argued, is further sign of the failure to monitor air traffic, intelligence collection, and post-incident investigation.

Based on the failure of the police to provide an update on the incident, the junior shadow security spokesman said it is fair to assume that only a small percentage of these illicit flights end in aircraft crashes or drug seizures.

This latest St Elizabeth incident fits into a developing pattern following a similar ‘crash landing’ in Clarendon in 2021 and the seizure of US$25 million worth of cocaine at Ian Fleming Airport in 2022.

Over the decades, Jamaica has invested in equipment and systems to undertake regular surveillance of the airspace and coastline to detect vessels and aircraft as well as monitor and control their use of the air and sea space. Successive administrations have also entered into cooperation agreements with international partners to assist with this exercise. However, the police still lack adequate resources to manage the issue.