MONTEGO BAY, ST JAMES — Two wanted men, brothers, turned themselves in to the St James police, mere hours after the division launch its latest initiative, Operation Storm, on Wednesday.

The police have described it as a fast-paced, high-intensity operation that targets wanted individuals, persons of interest and criminal suspects within the parish.

On Thursday, Deputy Superintendent of Police Lynroy Edwards confirmed that Derron “Man a 40” Reid and Austin “Ackeem” Reid, both from Burnt Ground in Spring Mount, St James, turned themselves in after being named as wanted men. They were accompanied by their attorney.

“Yes, we have two men in custody already. They were wanted for shootings,” DSP Edwards told the Jamaica Observer.

On the first day of Operation Storm, several individuals were taken in for questioning.

“We have so far taken about four men into custody for questions in relation to gang activities in and around the parish of St James. They are going to be questioned by the Montego Bay detectives,” Edwards said.

He is confident that the operation will have the desired impact on the parish which continues to lead the country in murders.

“However long it takes us, we are all determined to carry out this mission to keep St James safe once and for all,” Edwards said.

“This operation we won’t guarantee you overnight success, but I can assure you that it will not be a nine-day situation,” he added.

He said one area of focus is the disruption of gang activity within the parish.

“We will be targeting every community where gangs are affiliated. Glendevon area, Salt Spring, Green Pond, Rose Heights, Barnett Street, Granville, Flanker, Tucker, anywhere they are, just tell us and we will go and get them anytime, night or day,” he appealed to members of the public.

“We want to get them, all of them; those with guns, gangs, every one of them,” he remarked.

During the launch, on Wednesday, Edwards provided a list of individuals wanted by the police.

In addition to the two brothers who turned themselves in within hours, the list includes Flanker resident Joseph “JO” McKenzie and Shane “OK” Morgan from Upper King Street, Montego Bay.

Also listed are Leiko ‘Turner’ Maxwell from German Town; Omar “Not Nice” Romain Largie from Top Hill Montpelier; Shaquille Nathaniel Brown of William Street, Montego Bay, and Hampton District resident Kesson ‘Kass’ Bertrand who is also called “Trinity“ and ‘Pablo’. The list also includes Stefano Johnson who is also called “Stef”, “Beggie Don” or “Bowl Head”.

“All are wanted for murder and shooting in the St James Division,” DSP Edwards said.

He is urging residents to cooperate with the police to bring these wanted individuals and others to face the charges against them.

“We’d want the citizens to assist us to apprehend these men. Whilst we are happy when we recover the firearms, we would love to arrest these men with the firearms so we can put proper cases together as the new Firearms Act makes provision to put them away for a long time,” said Edwards.

“There is a new wind blowing across the parish of St James. Some will see it, some will feel it; it will be a storm around here, a storm of operational activities,” he insisted.