SAVANNA-LA-MAR,Westmoreland — Five individuals have been taken into the custody of the Westmoreland police following the recovery of three illegal firearms, ammunition, military fatigue and masks in three different operations over the weekend as the police rev up their campaign to rid the parish of illegal guns.

Reports are that yesterday morning members of a joint police/military team swooped down on a premises in the King’s Valley section of Grange Hill in the parish, where they seized masks and military type uniforms.

Yesterday morning’s operation by the security forces followed closely on the heels of a similar one in the Little London section of the parish about 11:45 pm on Saturday, where two men were nabbed following the recovery of a 9mm Ruger pistol with magazine and three rounds, as well as a 9mm pistol with magazine and 17 rounds.

About six hours before that, the security forces seized a Glock 17 pistol with magazines and 17 rounds in the community of Hertford in the parish. Two men were taken into custody in connection with that seizure.

Meanwhile, commander of the Westmoreland Police Division Superintendent Gary McKenzie told the Jamaica Observer that the security forces will continue the drive to rid the parish of criminals and firearms.

He said that a substantial number of crimes committed are by people who hail from other parishes, some of whom are imported to commit crimes which include shootings and murders.

Superintendent McKenzie is appealing to the residents of Westmoreland not to embrace criminals, but to report to the police what they know.

The parish of Westmoreland has been in the public spotlight since a bloodbath in sections of Grange Hill which left seven people, including two children, dead and 12 others injured on Tuesday, May 1.

The massacre, in addition to a bloody conflict between the Dester Street and Dallin Street gangs in Savanna-la-Mar, triggered a massive police/military operation in the parish which resulted in the capture of 17 alleged members of the Dester Street gang.

The alleged gangsters — 13 males and four females — have been charged under the anti-gang legislation.

The gangsters have allegedly been fingered in nearly 40 murders in western Jamaica in the past 17 months.

The police also say that the shipment of 19 guns intercepted at the Kingston Container Terminal in November last year was destined for the Dester Street gang.