Prime Minister Patterson's phone is said to have been bugged

The opposition has called for British police from Scotland Yard to head the investigation.

Jamaican Prime Minister Percival Patterson said the investigation must be concluded as soon as possible, and authorised the chief public prosecutor, Kent Pantry, to call in foreign help if necessary.

He said all documents and tapes must be submitted to Mr Pantry immediately.

Only the prime minister in Jamaica has authority to order wire taps.

Police officials targeted

The move comes after a senior police official leading the investigation, Walcott Brown, was shot in both arms outside his home on Wednesday.

Jamaica's Police Commissioner, Francis Forbes, subsequently beefed up his security after saying he had received death threats.

Mr Forbes said top officers were believed to be protecting massive shipments of Colombian cocaine moving through Jamaica on their way to the United States.

According to Jamaica's Gleaner newspaper, police officers were reportedly paid as much as $2m for protecting the shipments.

The paper said that apart from the prime minister's phone, those of Transport Minister Peter Phillips and Commerce Minister Philip Paulwell were also reportedly bugged.

Newspaper reports have linked the wiretaps to a shadowy civilian-led police intelligence unit.