Seize guns, ammo in massive Westmoreland operation

BY HORACE HINES

Observer staff reporter

hinesh@jamaicaobserver.com

ALMA, Westmoreland — The police were up to late yesterday still unable to identify members of the feared Alma Gang, who were killed in an alleged early morning gunfight with law enforcement officers yesterday.

Six illegal firearms and dozens of rounds of assorted ammunition were recovered during the massive operation, dubbed Operation Resilience, which has been set up to target gang members.

According to head of the Westmoreland Police Division, Superintendent Carol McKenzie, about 5:30 am yesterday the team came under heavy gunfire as they approached a location in the hilly section of the Alma community.

The fire was returned and a shoot-out ensued. After the shooting ceased, the police found the bodies of two men with gunshot wounds.

The police believe that other members of the gang, including its leader, were also shot and injured in the operation.

However, they said the injured men escaped leaving behind the cache of firearms and ammunition.

The weapons included an AK 47 rifle, a 12-gauge shotgun, one Berretta 380 semi-automatic pistol, one .45 calibre pistol and two 9mm calibre handguns.

Up to late yesterday, members of Operation Resilience, led by Superintendent McKenzie, were still scouring the hillside of Alma in search of members of the gang, who they say are responsible for most of the 63 murders recorded in the division since the start of this year.

Superintendent McKenzie said the removal of the illegal guns from the hands of hoodlums was a good start for Operation Resilience.

“The overall operation, I deem it a success. Although when life is lost it’s probably not the best. But when law enforcement is greeted with gunfire, we will respond,” he argued.

Meanwhile, one man was shot and killed and a policeman shot and injured during a similar operation in the community of Gulf in Norwood, St James, yesterday.

The dead man has so far been identified as Andrae Cox, also called ‘Blacka Shine’. The St James police said a 9mm pistol and two spent shells were recovered from the scene.

The fatal shootings have been reported to the Independent Commission of Investigations and are also being investigated by detectives from the Montego Bay and Savanna- la-Mar Criminal Investigation branches.

The police divisions of St James and Westmoreland have seen a spike in murders, registering the most homicides among police divisions in the country.

Yesterday, commander of the Police Area One, ACP Warren Clarke, disclosed that yesterday morning’s operations in St James and Westmoreland were as a result of increased anti-gang activities by the security forces.

The Police Area One encompasses the parishes of Trelawny, St James, Hanover and Westmoreland.

CAPTIONS:

Superintendent Carol McKenzie takes a water break during yesterday’s operation in Alma, Westmoreland. (Photos: Phillip Lemonte)

Guns and ammunition recovered during raid in Alma on display.