Some 600lb of ganja, believed to be part of the lucrative drugs-for-guns trade between Jamaica and neighbouring Haiti, was seized during a special operation by the police in Hellshire, St Catherine on Friday night.

Reports are that members of the Transnational Crimes and Narcotics Division went to the Sugarman Beach about 10 p.m., acting on information, and attempted to accost the men who were loading the drug on to boats.

Information states that the men immediately opened fire on the police who tried to apprehend them. The fire was returned and in the aftermath of the operation, one man from among the group was taken into police custody and is to be questioned by investigators today.

A Toyota Corolla station wagon and a white Toyota Hiace minibus were also seized.