JAMAICA MAKES RECORD DRUG SEIZURES, ARRESTS IN 1998

KINGSTON, Jamaica, Jan 19 (Reuters) - Jamaica's police seized a record
amount of narcotics and made a record number of drug-related arrests in
1998, according to police figures.

According to the figures released on Monday, security forces seized 2,860
pounds (1.297 metric tons) of cocaine last year, up from 910 pounds (414 kg)
in 1997. They seized 3,548 pieces of crack cocaine.

It was also a record year for marijuana seizures according to the police.
They reported 900,800 pounds (408.6 metric tons) of the drug were seized and
destroyed during 1998.

As result of the seizures, police arrested 7,352 people, including 259
foreigners, during the year.

Jamaica's performance in the area of drug control will come under close
scrutiny by the United States at the beginning of March.

The White House will recommend to Congress then whether the island should be
among those countries which merit being recertified for their record of
cooperation in the international drug fight.

Decertification would mean the withdrawal of most forms of direct aid from
the United States and the loss of U.S. support for assistance from
multilateral institutions including the IMF and World Bank.