The St. Catherine police say they are extremely concerned about the extent to which students are going to get drugs into schools.

The lawmen say that the students have found several creative ways to sneak the illicit substance onto school grounds. These include concealing the substance in school ties, inhalers, pens and even asthma pumps.

Principals of the affected institutions are also concerned about the smuggling methods.

One principal said that while drug abuse in schools is almost commonplace, the idea of students using 'tricky measures' to feed their addiction is most disturbing.

"Sad, sad, sad, these youngsters are going all out to feed their addiction ...That's what it is, they are addicted," one principal said.

Another principal, noting that the school will continue to work with the police as they try to curb the situation, pointed out: "It only makes you wonder what's next? Since we have found out these new ways, what will they come up with next?".

The police say that several students in schools in Portmore, St. Catherine, have been arrested and charged for possession and smoking of marijuana since January. Most of these arrests were made on school compounds or nearby.

Police Youth Club coordinator for the St. Catherine South Division, Constable Verdane Wright told THE STAR that drug smuggling in schools is indeed a concern for the division.

"...Where there is marijuana, guns are never far away." he said.

Constable Wright pointed to an incident where a Grade 9 student was found with numerous parcels of ganja in his bag while on his way to school and in the company of his mother.

In another recent incident, a 14-year-old student who was travelling in a taxi, was found with about thirty parcels of ganja, some of which were hidden in his tie. A pair of scissors and rolling paper were also recovered from him. The police say the items found on the teen suggest that he had been engaging in the sale of the drug.

When contacted by THE STAR, Jasper Lawrence, chief education officer at the Ministry of Education said they will support the police in ensuring that the law takes it course.

"The police will have our support...We cannot allow one student with weed to infect the other students, we would want the police to have a zero tolerance...," he said.