WESTERN BUREAU – Five St James men who were this week arrested and charged with illegal possession of firearm and ammunition will appear in court on Monday.

The men were nabbed by the cops on Wednesday during an operation in the volatile community of Rose Heights. During the raid, the St James cops seized their 59th illegal gun since the start of the year. A Toyota Corolla motorcar was also confiscated during the operation.

Arrested and charged are:

. 29 year-old driver Duroy James;

. Michael ‘Hagler’ Carter, 29;

. labourer Clayon ‘Dion’ Shaw, 20;

. 33 year-old labourer Lance Dale Watt, otherwise called ‘Collie’; and

. Dwight Barrett, 33. They are all from Rose Heights.

Constabulary Communication Network liaison officer for St James Peter Salkey said the weapon was seized at about 9:00 pm on Wednesday during a police operation at the intersection of Felicity and Sun valley roads. According to Salkey, the police spotted the car with the five men aboard and signalled the driver to stop.

The group of men was taken from the car and during a search of the vehicle, the CCN said, the police found a .45 colt pistol with serial number SM41521. The weapon, loaded with eight .45 cartridges, was on the floor, wrapped in a black tam.

The police said that calibre of handgun is the most powerful in the world. As a result, the Jamaican Government has stopped issuing permits for its use.