Authorities reviewing violations ahead of deportees’ arrival

Jamaican officials now have details about the 50 persons scheduled to be deported from the United Kingdom (UK) next month, law enforcement sources have confirmed.

According to sources, the names of the deportees are listed in the flight manifest that was delivered to Jamaican authorities by their British counterparts.

Further, sources reveal that the Jamaican police have a list of the crimes for which they were convicted, but said that information is being closely guarded.

The Gleaner understands that detectives assigned to the Criminal Investigation Branch of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) have been “going through the list”.

“So far, the offences are drug-related and immigration violations,” one source revealed.

The source said it was too early to determine how many persons local law enforcement authorities would have an interest in, but insisted that “some processing is being done”.

Close monitoring

Rear Admiral Hardley Lewin, the former head of the Jamaican military and the JCF, believes this intelligence-gathering exercise is critical.

He said that local authorities would have to pay close attention to those deportees with “connection to criminal gangs which they might have been supporting while they were overseas”.

Added Lewin: “I expect that armed with the information about who we are getting, our security forces will [put in place] the appropriate kind of reception and plan for them,” said Lewin, noting that they have not committed any offences in Jamaica.

“One would have to look at their connections and linkages here, if any. Whatever responses we have has to be commensurate with who we have being returned,” he added.

Lewin acknowledged that he has been “out of the loop”, but noted that the deportation of Jamaicans is something that happens “all the time”.

“We have to pay attention to any number of persons being returned,” he said, while adding that a majority of persons are deported for “overstaying their welcome” in a foreign country.

The Gleaner first reported last week that the 50 deportees, accompanied by 190 British security personnel, are to be flown back to Jamaica on February 6 on board a charter flight.

National Security Minister Dr Horace Chang confirmed that he signed a document earlier this month giving approval for the aircraft to land in Jamaica.

Chang indicated, at the time, that the police had been notified.