Operations at the Sangster International Airport, in Montego-Bay St. James, were disrupted today following a security breach.

The incident, which occurred at around 1 p.m., led to emergency protocols being triggered at the airport and several flights cancelled.

Transport Minister Daryl Vaz explains that initially it was thought that a firearm had passed through the pre-boarding passenger screening machine.

The item was reportedly spotted in a bag on screening images after the passenger had passed through and entered the departures lounge.

This triggered protocols which included the cessation of boarding and the departure of flights until the passenger and the bag were identified.

It was subsequently discovered that the item in question was a lighter in the shape of a gun.

Minister Vaz says the passenger involved likely brought the item from another jurisdiction.

Meanwhile, Manager of Commercial Development and Marketing at MBJ Airports, Sharon Hislop-Holt noted that three departing and one arriving flight were cancelled due to the disruption.

In a statement this afternoon, Mrs. Hislop-Holt said the relevant airlines are making alternative arrangements to transport their passengers to their respective destinations as early as possible.

She noted that the passenger involved in the security incident was taken into custody along with the suspicious item and that the police are continuing their investigations.