The St. Catherine South Police seized three illegal firearms and several rounds of ammunition in separate operations across the Division within first 24 hours following the launch of Operation Resilience II.
In the first operation about 10:48 a.m. on Friday, September 23 a joint Police team comprising members of the Specialized Operations Branch conducted snap raids in sections of Christian Gardens where they seized a .45 semi-automatic pistol with a magazine containing seven rounds. Nine men were detained for questioning during the operation.
In the second operation, about 8:40 p.m., a Police team conducted a targeted operation in the 3 East area of Greater Portmore, where one man was accosted, searched and a 9mm pistol with a magazine containing three rounds taken from him. Two other men were also arrested for other offences.
A third operation was conducted about 11:30 p.m., in the vicinity of the Hellshire round-a-bout, in Portmore, St. Catherine, when the Quick Response Team targeted a motorcycle with two men. They were signaled to stop but refused and sped off and the team went in pursuit. The pillion fell off the motorcycle and a bag he was carrying also fell. The driver continued and the pillion made his escaped in the area, leaving the bag behind. The bag was searched a Glock .40 pistol with an extended magazine containing 13 rounds of ammunition was found.
The seizures came hours after ‘Operation Relentless II’ was launched by the Police High Command targeting guns, gunmen and gangs across the island. In support of this initiative, the St. Catherine South Police has ramped up operational activities across the division with increased daily deployment in hotspot communities. Since the start of the year, the St. Catherine South Police seized 53 illegal firearms, eight more than the corresponding period last year.
Commanding Officer for the Division, Senior Superintendent of Police Christopher Phillips has commended his team for their effort and has also committed to an all-out assault on criminals and violence producers in the division.
