WESTERN BUREAU: More than 20 men were detained and three arrested and charged during a raid carried out by the Area One police in several inner-city communities in Montego Bay on Thursday.

The raid, which was conducted in the wake of a

recent upsurge in gang warfare, covered the Bottom Pen, Glendevon and Norwood areas.

During the operation, the police arrested and charged 21-year-old Leon Haynes of Hollywood, in Norwood, with possession of and dealing in cocaine, and unlawful possession of property.

According to the police report, a search of Haynes’ home revealed 60 pieces of cocaine. He was also charged with unlawful possession of property, for jewellery and a radio for which he could not satisfactorily establish ownership.

In addition, 19-year-old Oneil Moore, of Flankers, was charged with illegal possession of a firearm after he was allegedly found with a home-made hand gun that contained a round of 9mm cartridges.

The third man arrested, 24-year-old Richard Whittingham of Rat Trap District in Westmoreland, was charged with possession of ganja.

Five people were shot and injured, last week, during what police believe was a gang-related flare-up of violence. Since then the police have stepped up security in the affected areas.

Superintendent of police in charge of the St James Division, Leon Rose, said yesterday that the public need not “panic”.

“These operations will continue until we are satisfied that those responsible for crime are brought to justice,” the superintendent said.

Rose’s resolve to rid the parish of crime was shared by the parish’s Constabulary Communication Network’s liaison officer for St James, Paul Stanton.

“We will not let up until we rid St James of all the criminal elements,” Stanton told the Observer.