Major General Antony Anderson says intelligence-guided operations continue to drive gun seizures. He also reported that murders have decreased by six per cent and shootings by 21 per cent. According to the commissioner, break-ins have also been reduced by 44 per cent.

Cops in hot seat for jailbreaks; firearm seizure surge continues

2 Mar 2022/andre.williams@gleanerjm.com

SEVERAL POLICE personnel interdicted in relation to islandwide jailbreaks have been charged and will face a court of enquiry as investigations continue.

The revelation was made on Tuesday by Major General Antony Anderson, the commissioner of police, who further disclosed that that process would take “a few months”.

“We will determine what the outcomes of those disciplinary proceedings are,” Anderson said at a press conference at his Old Hope Road headquarters in St Andrew.

Five days after a December 2, 2021, Gleaner report on a corruption probe into police complicity in the escape of a fugitive at the Kingston Central lock-up, the High Command revealed that 11 personnel across junior and senior ranks had been interdicted. Those measures were also linked to a series of other questionable jailbreaks islandwide.

Among the high-profile lock-up breaches was the disappearance of 27-year-old Orville Purnell, who is wanted in St Lucia on murder and other charges. Purnell was reported by a high-ranking police officer to have simply “walked out” of jail on December 1.

Meanwhile, the police have revealed a surge in gun seizures in 2022.

Law enforcers have already netted 28 rifles, a 100 per cent increase on the number seized over the corresponding period last year.

“Overall, we have removed 163 illegal firearms from the hands of criminals and murders, which is an increase of 37 per cent over last year,” Anderson said.

That includes the seizure of seven firearms that were found disassembled in television

sets during an intelligence-driven operation between Customs and the police in St James on Monday.

Two persons have since been arrested.

The police seized two rifles, a sub-machine gun, four handguns, eight magazines, and 16 rounds at a warehouse on Sea Grape Way, Montego Bay.

The police also seized an Ak-47 rifle with nine rounds in St Andrew Central as well as pistols and ammunition in St Andrew South and St Catherine South.

“We continue to seize the primary tools used by gunmen and gangs to inflict death, mayhem, and pain on our society,” the commissioner said.

Since the start of the year, the police report seizing 5,600lb of ganja.

“These criminals are not using their ill-gotten gains to improve their communities. They are using their wealth to live lavishly, purchase guns, or wage wars against their rivals and destroy lives and livelihoods of our dear citizens,” Anderson said.

Major crimes have declined by 15 per cent year-on-year, the commissioner reported.

Murders have slid by six per cent; shootings, 21 per cent; robberies, 14 per cent; and breakins, 44 per cent.

“It is important to note that since the start of the year, there have been 754 major crimes reported in Jamaica. This is the lowest figure since 2010,”the commissioner said.

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