MANCHESTER, Jamaica — A woman is among two people charged following the seizure of a firearm during an operation targeting electricity theft in Manchester on Friday.

Operations Officer for Manchester, Deputy Superintendent Collin Johnson said the Manchester police and the Jamaica Public Service company conducted a joint operation in the south-central parish.

“Between the hours of 10:00 and and 4:00 pm. We conducted several targeted operations in the parish around wanted persons, persons of interest as also migrant criminals who we believe are hiding in the parish. During one of our operations a 9mm pistol with six 9mm rounds was seized,” he said.

“Two persons have since been charged for this seizure. A 30-year-old female and a 25-year-old male,” added Johnson.

He said 11 other people were charged for trespassing on the works of JPS.

“One man was charged for possession and dealing in ganja where over seven pounds of ganja was found,” said Johnson.

DSP Johnson said the police has noticed a high number of illegal connections to the JPS grid and squatting while on patrol.

“We realised that there are several throw ups on the grid. People also captured some houses and lived there without paying utilities including electricity or water bills,” he explained.

“There are instances of squatting, because one of the apartments complex that we went, we understand that the owner died a few years ago and persons captured his property. These houses were checked and had several appliances including TV, refrigerator and there is no legal JPS connection,” added Johnson.

He said at one of the premises visited, the police arrested five people for trespassing on the works of the JPS.