KINGSTON, Jamaica — In an effort to stem the rising tide of violence in West Kingston, a joint military police operation targeted several communities between Monday night and this morning.

Several men were taken into custody and are now being processed by the police.

The operation involved units from the Kingston West and Kingston Central Police Division, the Mobile Reserve, Organised Crime Investing Division, the Flying Squad and the Jamaica Defence Force.

Police report that murders have increased in the area especially in sections of Denham Town as rival gangs battle for turf and control of extortion returns. 

At the same time at least one more murder was added to the tally in Denham Town, as police report that minutes after 9 o’clock last night gunmen pounced on a man identified only as ‘Ceeki Locks’ and shot him several times killing him on the spot.

A large detachment of police and soldiers are now deployed in the area and curfews imposed in sections of the community.

-Karyl Walker