Police in St. James have taken several Haitians and a Jamaican woman into custody as part of a major crackdown under Operation Endgame, which authorities say is aimed at dismantling gang networks operating in the parish.
According to Superintendent Lynroy Edwards, operations officer for the initiative, the arrests were made during coordinated operations in the Blue Hole community of Montpellier on Monday.
“Four Haitians and one Jamaican female were taken into custody after operations were carried out at two locations in Blue Hole,” Edwards confirmed.
He explained that the operation targeted a major violence producer believed to be hiding in the area. Intelligence reports suggest that the Jamaican woman played a key role in recruiting Haitian nationals for local gangs.
“Our intelligence is pointing to gang affiliation, and the female has been playing a major role over time in recruiting Haitians for gangs,” Edwards disclosed.
He noted that investigations are in the early stages but are ongoing.
Additional Breakthroughs During the Week
Superintendent Edwards also highlighted several other successes under Operation Endgame in recent days.
On Wednesday, around 5:15 a.m., police conducted an operation along the Ironshore main road, where they observed an amputee suspect attempting to flee into nearby bushes.
A search of the area led to the recovery of a pistol with five 9mm rounds, and both the amputee and another man were arrested.
“The amputee has been a member of the now-defunct Ski Mask Gang, which used to operate in the Lilliput area, and based on our intelligence, he is still involved in criminal activities,” Edwards revealed.
On Tuesday, officers also seized another 9mm pistol during a raid at Plum Bago Circle, Montego West Village, Granville. A 43-year-old man was arrested in connection with that find.
Meanwhile, on Friday, October 10, two men were taken into custody after police recovered a Glock 17 pistol, another 9mm weapon, and seven rounds of ammunition during a raid at Bougainvillea Drive in Bogue Heights, Montego Bay. The arrests followed a police pursuit of a black Toyota Crown that had disobeyed a signal to stop. Inside the vehicle, officers reportedly discovered lottery scamming paraphernalia, which led to further searches and the recovery of the firearms.
Crime-Fighting Efforts Continue
Superintendent Edwards said Operation Endgame has been yielding positive results, contributing to a steady decline in major crimes across St. James in recent months.
“The St. James Police, supported by our partners in the Jamaica Defence Force, will continue relentless operations against criminal networks to sustain and preserve safety and security across the parish,” he affirmed.
