Eight police officers are said to be members of the Clarendon-based Ronko Gang which is linked to shootings, robberies and abductions among other crimes in nine parishes between 2019 and 2021.

Four of the alleged bad cops along with other members of the gang were taken into custody during an operation on Friday, Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of crime, Fitz Bailey revealed at a media briefing.

Three of the other cops were already in custody including alleged gang leader Tafari Silvera, a police constable assigned to the St Andrew South police. Another policeman linked to the criminal network reportedly fled the island shortly after Silvera was arrested.

“The police have the capacity and the will to investigate our own… this investigation was as a result our own intelligence-led investigation,” Bailey said.

“We would like to declare that we will be unbiased in our approach to any member of the society who run afoul of the law…as long as there is sufficient evidence you will be prosecuted,” he added.

The 27-strong Ronko Gang has been linked to crimes across Clarendon, Manchester, St Elizabeth, St Catherine, St Mary, Trelawny, Kingston, St Andrew and St James.

The crimes include shootings, burglary, robbery with aggravation, illegal possession of firearm, shop breaking, conspiracy to murder and abductions, police said.