A major anti-narcotics law enforcement operation conducted jointly between the JCF Narcotics Division, the Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency (MOCA), the Counter Terrorism and Organized Crime Investigations Branch (C-TOC), the Financial Investigations Division (FID), the Jamaica Fugitive Apprehension Team (JFAT), the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF), US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and US Marshals Service, this morning resulted in the arrest of four men, two of whom are wanted by the United States for extradition in connection with transnational drug trafficking offences.
According to the police, at approximately 4:45am this morning, officers from the JCF Narcotics Division alongside agents from MOCA, C-TOC, JFAT, the JDF, US DEA and US Marshals service, launched a series of simultaneous operations across 5 locations between Montego Bay and Kingston, in search of five men who are believed to be major players in transnational narco-trafficking.
Major Basil Jarrett, Director of Communications at the Major Organised Crime and Anti- Corruption Agency (MOCA), said that the four men were picked up early this morning, following highly coordinated and precisely synchronized joint operations across several locations in Montego Bay and Kingston. “Today’s operation is the latest demonstration of the immense value of our joint approach to law enforcement”, he noted “and the significant success that we can achieve when we pool our respective strengths, assets, resources and expertise.
Video by the Jamaica Constabulary Force.
This morning’s operations also resulted in the seizure of a number of high-end, luxury vehicles, laptops, tablets, cell phones and quantities of cash. The Kingston-based team discovered approximately US$40,723.00, CA$29,190.00, JA$530,750.00 a licensed Glock firearm with 132 live rounds, 19 cell phones, 28 sim cards and a number of other evidentiary material. In Montego Bay, detectives seized US$6,785, 11 cell phones and a BMW motor car. The four suspects are expected to be charged shortly, following which more details will be provided about them and the crimes which they have been linked to.
A spokesperson from the U.S. Embassy praised the lawmen for the excellent results this morning, noting that the operation demonstrates the strong collaboration between Jamaica and the United States Government as well their respective law enforcement agencies, in the fight to disrupt and deter those involved in transnational drug trafficking.”
The law enforcement agencies are encouraging persons to report what they know about narco-trafficking, illegal weapons, lottery scamming and other forms of organized criminal activity in their communities, by using their respective tip lines, online portals or social media pages.