KINGSTON, Jamaica — Police say they have arrested nine “high ranking” gang members over the past five weeks in a series of joint military operations in western Kingston.

The men are suspected to be key players in an ongoing battle that has claimed some 20 lives in the community since the start of the year.

Those in custody are members of the feuding ‘Strikers’ and ‘Scare Dem’ gangs.

Arrested and charged are: Remarlio ‘Deenie/Porridge’ Yee, a 19-year-old construction worker of Dumphries Street, Kingston 14. He is charged with two counts of murder and one count of shooting with intent;

Fredrick ‘Gazaman’ Mattis, 21-years-old of Chestnut Lane, Kingston 14 who was found in possession of a Browning 9mm pistol and fourteen 9mm cartridges and was subsequently charged with the offence of illegal possession of firearm and ammunition;

Elvis Anthony Keith, a 39-year-old carpenter of Wellington Street, Kingston 14. He is believed to be the interim leader of the Scare Dem gang and was found in possession of one M16 Rifle, two magazines with twenty eight 5.56 cartridges, one Stein Ruger 9mm pistol, one magazine with ten 9 mm cartridges and one Taurus eight shooter .38 Revolver.

He was subsequently charged with three counts of illegal possession of firearm and ammunition, police report;

Tajai ‘Weng’ Freeman, 21, of Golden Heights, Kingston 14. He was found in possession of fourteen 9 mm cartridges and was subsequently charged with illegal possession of ammunition;

Christopher “Quiddy Ba” Pryce, a 22-year-old labourer of Beckford Street, Kingston 14. He was charged with shooting with intent.

“Additionally, four other gang members who were also arrested and taken into police custody are being questioned for separate incidents of murder and/or shooting with intent,” police high command reported.

Police say intelligence suggests that since the disruption of the once cohesive criminal network labelled the ‘Presidential Clique’, and the extradition of Christopher Coke, internal feuds over ‘donmanship’ of the community have intensified.