Operation Kingfish seized more than 408 kilograms (900 lb) of ganja yesterday during an operation in Portland Cottage, Clarendon.

One man was fatally shot during an alleged shoot-out between gunmen and the police during the incident. A firearm was also seized.

The dead man has not yet been identified.

suspected drug dealers

Spokesman for Operation King-fish, Sergeant Jubert Llewellyn, explained that the incident began to unfold from Wednesday evening when the police went in search of suspected drug dealers who fled the scene on arrival of the police.

The drug was subsequently found at a premises in the area.

The men were later seen driving along the Portland Cottage main road in two cars and were signalled to stop.

The orders were, however, disregarded and the men escaped again.

Further reports are that the police continued to patrol the area and caught up with the men yet again at 3 a.m. yesterday.

This time the occupants of the vehicle reportedly opened fire on the police team. The fire was returned and the driver of one of the cars was shot and injured.

The injured driver was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead. The other men escaped.