ST ELIZABETH, Jamaica — A man who is said to be a person of interest in St Elizabeth has been taken into custody for questioning following a police/military operation in the parish Friday morning.

Head of the St Elizabeth police Superintendent Coleridge Minto has intensified operations in the south-central parish in search of criminal suspects and illegal firearms.

Minto, who assumed duties as commander for St Elizabeth recently, on Friday led a joint police/ military predawn operation in the violence-plagued community of Spring Park close to Black River.

“The operation is geared towards the persons of interest and illegal firearms, so far one male who is of interest to the police has been taken in for questioning,” Minto said.

He said the operation commenced at 4:30 am.

On Thursday night Minto reassured Justices of the Peace (JPs) in St Elizabeth that the police will be intensifying their efforts to locate and arrest criminals in the parish.

“Intelligence is suggesting that men (criminals) are moving towards our parish and we would like to ensure that we keep the St Elizabeth division safe,” he said while addressing the St Elizabeth JPs inaugural awards banquet at the Tropics View Hotel in Manchester.

— Kasey Williams