Western Bureau:

BY MID-MORNING yesterday most Montegonians had heard the news of the dramatic capture and arrest of businessmen Leebert Ramcharan and Donovan Williams, who the police have described as drug kingpins involved in money laundering and drug smuggling.

However, unlike other news events, most residents of the western city seem somewhat reluctant to speak about the matter, which entailed the search of several multi-million dollar homes in the Coral Gardens and Spring Farm area, the seizure of several expensive motor vehicles and boxes of documents.

"Bwoy, me hear wha a gwaan but yu know how it go, you have to careful how you talk," said a policeman, who stood guard at the gate to one of the luxury homes that was searched. "At the end of the day, a man have fi think bout him family and him personal safety so me nuh have nothing to say."

At the swanky three-storey Spring Farm home of Mr. Ramcharan, which resembles some of the 'cribs' of some wealthy American sports stars, police officers armed with what appeared to be metal detectors, were seen searching near a tennis court, mini basketball court, swimming pool, a giant gazebo and an exquisite-looking doghouse.

"Sir, I don't have anything to say because I really don't know them very well," said a woman who was seen raking the lawn of property next to Ramcharan's home. "Around here, people generally tend to mind their own business and by doing that, we stay out of trouble."

Attorney-at-law George Thomas, who is representing both Ramcharan, who owns and operates the Caribbean Showplace and nearby Caribbean Beach Park; and Williams, a garage operator, said he was unsure as to the reason why the men were taken into custody. He said he would be seeking to have them released through the courts today. "I have not been getting any solid reasons from the police as to why the men were arrested and as we speak, we are making preparation to have them released," said Thomas.

By mid-afternoon, it became apparent that Thomas would be having a fight on his hands as news came that the British police were requesting Ramcharan's extradition. They claim he is wanted in Britain for money laundering. Ramcharan's brother (Norman), was recently arrested in London on drug-related charges and is now awaiting trial.

A member of the narcotics team, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that they were acting on specific information from an informant and feels reasonably sure that they will have an iron-clad case against both Ramcharan and Williams. He also stated that steps were being taken to freeze their assets.

The seizure of the vehicles from Ramcharan's home was not a smooth operation for the lawmen as several Montego Bay-based companies, which offer wrecker services, politely declined attempts by the police to solicit their services in the removal of the vehicles. In the end, the police's wrecker was forced to make several trips with the confiscated vehicles.

Ramcharan was reportedly arrested about 5:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Wyndham Rose Hall and taken to the Montego Bay Freeport Police Station. He was later flown by helicopter to Kingston. Williams was picked up about 12 hours later at his home at the Seawind Apartments located in the Montego Bay Freeport area.