WESTMORELAND, Jamaica – Five men suspected to be members of the ‘Ambition Gang’ of Llandilo, Westmoreland, and major players in the lottery scam, were arrested during a mutli-agency operation conducted by members of C-TOC, the Jamaica Defence Force and the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) team in Halcot Crescent, St Andrew,yesterday.

A news release from the Corporate Communications Unit Saturday said the men will be interviewed in the presence of their lawyers, after which formal charges will be proffered.

Reports are that between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm, lawmen intercepted a BMW motor car with three men aboard, that was seen leaving a house on Halcot Crescent. During the search of the premises, two other men were detained and several lottery scamming paraphernalia seized.

Among the items seized were: one lead sheet, a book with personal information of people overseas, 10 cellular phones, one laptop, J$298,480, and US$601.

The BMW and a Toyota Corolla were also seized and the men arrested.

The release said the police continue to work alongside their international partners to decrease the prevalence of lottery scammers locally and abroad, as well as subdue the occurrences of crimes related to lottery scamming.

“Anyone who is suspected of being part of this illicit trade will be prosecuted and can face extradition, the police are therefore asking anyone with information on such persons to contact the Counter-Terrorism and Organized Crime Branch at 967-1369, the MOCA 24-hour toll free number at 1-800-corrupt, the police 119 emergency number, Crime Stop at 311, or the nearest police station,” the release said.