Three people have been arrested following two simultaneous targeted operations conducted by the Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency (MOCA) in Montego Bay and Portmore on Friday morning.

The operations and arrests are in relation to a $17 million fraud investigation at the Human Employment and Resources Training Trust/National Training Agency (HEART Trust/NSTA), MOCA said in a press release.

According to Major Basil Jarrett, Director of Communications at MOCA, MOCA agents with operational support from the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) went to two residences, one in Montego Bay and the other in Portmore, in search of three persons, one a former HEART Trust/NSTA employee, suspected to be involved in the multi-million dollar crime.

One suspect was found and held at the Portmore location, and the other two at their home in Montego Bay. All three were detained prior to a search of their respective premises which turned up a number of evidential items which were subsequently seized, MOCA said.

The three individuals are expected to be charged later Friday morning.

MOCA said it urges members of the public to report any suspicious activities involving financial transactions to the agency’s tip line at 888-MOCA-TIP.