Police continue their clamp down on illegal weapons as seven firearms and 80 rounds of ammunition have been seized by lawmen across the island in the last 24 hours.
Operations carried out by detectives within the St. Andrew North Division accounted for the seizure of three of the weapons, 35 rounds of ammunition, and the arrest of five men. Another man was fatally shot during a confrontation. The circumstances surrounding these seizures are as follows:
· About 3:10 a.m., four men were taken into custody on the Waugh Hill main road, St. Andrew when the vehicle they were travelling in, was signaled to stop. The vehicle and occupants were searched, during which a Sig Sauer 9mm pistol and 13 rounds of ammunition were seized.
· During operations in the areas of Peanut Lane and Cassava Piece in Kingston 8 about 1:35 p.m., an unidentified man was fatally shot during a confrontation with the Police on Mannings Hill Road, Kingston 8. A Taurus 9mm pistol and five rounds of ammunition were seized during the incident. The matter was reported to the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM).
· Twenty-seven-year-old Kemar Lamoth, of 100 Lane, St. Andrew was arrested by JCF members on foot patrol about 8:15 p.m., in the 100 Lanearea. Lamoth was charged after he was found in possession of a 9mm pistol and 17 rounds of ammunition. He is for court on Monday, May 18.
Investigations carried out by lawmen in the St. Andrew South Division accounted for the seizure of two of the firearms and 30 rounds of ammunition which resulted in the arrest of six persons.
The circumstances surrounding these seizures are as follows:
· About 3:30 p.m., a woman was arrested on Binns Road, Kingston 11 after she was found in possession of a Springfield 9mm pistol and 15 rounds of ammunition. Her identity is being withheld pending further investigations.
· In Phase 2, Seaview Gardens, Kingston 11, five persons – two men and three women – were taken into custody about 5:45 p.m., following the seizure of a Beretta 9mm pistol and 15 rounds of ammunition. Their identities are being withheld as investigations are ongoing.
The other two firearms were seized in the Kingston Central Division and St. Catherine South Divisions.
· A Taurus 9mm pistol and 10 rounds of ammunition were seized by Police during an operation on Maiden Lane in Kingston about 6:30 a.m. A 17-year-old boy was taken into custody; charges have not yet been laid.
· In St. Catherine, one man was taken into custody on Big Lane, Central Village in the parish, following the seizure of a 12-gauge shotgun and five rounds of ammunition about 3:00 p.m. His identity is being withheld as investigations continue.
Meanwhile, lawmen are renewing their appeal for members of the public to report illegal weapons by calling Crime Stop at 311, Police 119 emergency number or their nearest Police Station.
