Police deal heavy blow to organised crime

Jamaica’s cops are turning the screws on organised crime as they ramp up a major offensive against gun gangs and the criminal networks behind the island’s deadly violence.

Senior Superintendent of Police Christopher Brown, head of the Specialised Investigation Branch (SIB), says the police are going after the flow of firearms and ammunition with renewed force — and insists the latest successes are no accident.

“Each round of ammunition seized represents a life saved,” Brown said, warning that every bullet taken off the streets could mean one less weapon in the hands of a killer.

Serious Crimes Report for January 1 to August 8 indicates that murders continue to fall, with killings down 19.8 per cent, compared with the corresponding period last year. Shooting incidents have also declined by 24 per cent, while the overall number of major crimes recorded fell by 17 per cent, pointing to a broad-based reduction in serious criminal activity.

Brown said the Jamaica Constabulary Force’s recent strikes against criminal networks and the seizure of guns and ammunition “are not coincidental”, but the result of “deliberate and intentional efforts” by the force. He praised the “collaboration and teamwork” between specialised police units and partner agencies, as investigators continue to target the networks supplying weapons to criminals.

But the senior cop admitted that there is only so much cops can do without help from the public.

“The police cannot win this fight alone,” Brown said.

He issued a fresh plea for Jamaicans to break their silence and provide information that could help investigators track down gunmen, weapons and ammunition.

“Share what you know,” he urged, calling on citizens to “partner with us” in the battle against organised crime.

The warning comes as the police seek to choke off the weapons pipeline before more bullets can turn into bloodshed.

The SIB has scored a string of major blows against organised crime over the past week, with 19 alleged gang members charged, millions of dollars in cash seized, and firearms, ammunition and tactical gear taken off the streets in operations spanning Montego Bay, Kingston and St Andrew.