KINGSTON, Jamaica—Some $15 million in cash was seized during operations in Hanover between June 12 and 14 by members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force’s (JCF) Anti-Lottery Scam Unit (ALSU) of the Counter-Terrorism and Organised Crime Investigation Branch (C-TOC) in its ‘Scam Done, Justice a Run’ initiative.
Reports are that during an intelligence-driven operation, ALSU personnel carried out more than 30 raids in Top Hill, New Town, Sandy Bay and other areas of the parish, which led to the significant seizure of cash in various currencies.
Four individuals were apprehended during the operation—three subsequently charged with breaches of the Law Reform Act 2013.
Charged are 21-year-old Maurice Campbell of Top Hill, Sandy Bay; 21-year-old Tajrae Jones also of Top Hill, Sandy Bay, and 22-year-old Shamar Forbes, otherwise called ‘Tyrone’, of Lucea, all in Hanover.
In addition to the cash seized, investigators also seized three imitation firearms and 11 high-end motor vehicles, among other items.
This latest seizure follows on the heels of the launch of the initiative on Thursday, June 5, in sections of St James, which yielded over J$28 million in cash and multiple high-end assets, as well as the arrest and charge of several individuals.
Head of the ALSU, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Dave Brown, reaffirmed his team’s commitment to disrupting the lottery scam trade.
“These operations are not only about seizures and arrests, but it’s about systematically dismantling the financial infrastructure that is being built from this trade,” said DSP Brown.
Since the start of the initiative, more than J$40 million in cash has been seized in just over a week, along with several high-end vehicles and other lottery scamming paraphernalia.
The police are urging citizens to share information and report individuals participating in the illicit lottery scam trade by contacting C-TOC at 876-967-1389, the National Intelligence Bureau at 811, Crime Stop at 311, the 119 Police Emergency number or the nearest police station.