KINGSTON, Jamaica— The Praedial Larceny Prevention Unit of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) has reaped huge success in tackling the problem of agricultural theft in 2024, according to figures provided by Agriculture Minister Floyd Green.

Speaking during a statement in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, where he announced that the JCF had begun the recruitment process for the first 100 agricultural wardens to combat the problem, Green shared that the unit had performed better than in 2023.

As at September 30, 2024 the unit had accomplished the following:

• made 79 arrests compared to 78 in 2023;
• placed 137 cases before the courts; 138 cases were placed before the courts in 2023;
• achieved six convictions compared to 15 last year;
• administered 149 farm watch programmes compared to 107 done in 2023;
• conducted 3,481 operations/raids;
• undertaken 2,279 sensitisation sessions- 1,763 were conducted in 2023

Additionally, the police praedial larceny focused patrols continued in 2024 with the number of such patrols undertaken to date being 11,488. This compares with 12,227 undertaken in 2023.

Green noted that the praedial larceny prevention programme also places significant focus on the fisheries sector. To date, 5,719 fishing beaches operations have been conducted, with 4,863 conducted in 2023.

Meanwhile, the Praedial Larceny Unit at the Ministry of Agriculture has been doubled and a new Toyota Hilux motor vehicle has been purchased to ensure increased mobility for the team. Green told the House that a fleet of vehicles will be purchased to support the work of the unit.