THE police yesterday formally charged four men, who they believe to be members of Joel Andem’s gang, with illegal possession of firearm and ammunition and are still interrogating two others picked up during a raid on Thursday in the Mud Town district of Papine, St Andrew.

Seven other men, who were held during the pre-dawn operation, during which a police constable was shot and injured, were released yesterday after being questioned for several hours.

The arrested men are:

* Kemar Cottrell, 19, who is called Jamar;

* Kamally Henry, 20, also known as Andy;

* Henry White, 20; and

* Omar Lennon, 23, also called Prento, Bolo and Blood.

All four gave their address as 19 Highlight View, Mud Town, Papine.

Joel Andem has been high on the police most wanted list since August 2000 when his gang was suspected of being behind the kidnap and murder of service station owner/operator, Sylvia Edwards, who was reportedly abducted because she resisted their extortion attempts.

Since then, the police say they have linked Andem with at least 21 other murders as well as several shootings.

But his notoriety has grown in recent weeks after the police released an amateur video recording of Andem’s gang members, including his girlfriend, Tamika, frolicking at their hide-out, toting guns and threatening to kill police.

The video also showed gang members holding a Christmas 2000 treat for children in a St Andrew community and openly displaying guns. Andem is seen in the video, seeming reclusive, but holding a high-powered rifle.

Then last Sunday, Television Jamaica (TVJ) broadcast a telephone interview with Andem commenting on the video, claiming that he was being accused of several crimes he did not commit and railing against Jamaica’s justice system.

Police have put out a $100,000 reward for information leading to Andem’s arrest and have been searching the hills of St Andrew and Kintyre and Papine in search of gang members.

According to the police, on one of their forays into Papine early Thursday, they held 13 young men and seized a .380 semi-automatic handgun loaded with eight bullets.

The four men who were charged in connection with that gun find are to appear in the Half-Way-Tree Gun Court on April 12.