ST JAMES, Jamaica — A 9mm pistol among other contraband were seized and several individuals were taken into custody during a massive operation in the Norwood Zone of Special Operations (ZOSO) on Wednesday.

Dubbed “Operation Zero”, the security forces indicated that this is geared towards having no murders within the two zones for the calendar year 2025.

“This morning about 4:00 am, we launched Operation Zero. This is in relation to maintaining zero murders in the space of Norwood,” stated ground commander for the Zones of Special Operations in Norwood and Mount Salem, St James, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Ainsley McCarthy.

“Last year we had a zero murder year and we intend to keep it that way for this year,” he shared.

McCarthy added that the Mount Salem ZOSO had one murder last year but the aim is to have no homicides in that area this year as well.

However, on Wednesday, the operation was focused on the Norwood ZOSO and DSP McCarthy said that they have reaped some success already.

“During the operation this morning, we recovered one 9mm Glock pistol equipped with a chip which modified the weapon to fire automatically.”

“No one was taken into custody. This was found under an abandoned building along with some lead sheets that is used in the lottery scamming.”

“At a second location, we recovered nine 9mm cartridges. Two persons were taken into custody for that find,” he disclosed.

He revealed that the operation was carried out along Wugga Lane, Bluebell Crescent and that general area and several men were taken into custody during that time.

“These persons will be interviewed and where charges can be laid, we will lay charges against those persons,” DSP McCarthy said.

He explained that the ZOSOs in both areas are achieving their goals which they want to maintain.

“For the entirety year last year, anybody who knew Norwood before the Zone of Special Operations would know that for a given year you would have between 20 and 30 murders in the space.”

“Last year, we had zero murders and so it is a testament that the Zone of Special Operations is working and the citizens are quite satisfied with the Zone of Special Operations,” he continued.

He said that residents are seeing the benefits and are willing to work with the security forces to change their communities.

“When you talk to the persons, they express their joy at having the zone here because economically the value of some of their houses have gone up because we had persons who had ran away before the zone started who are now coming back to occupy their premises,” DSP McCarthy explained.

“They are quite comfortable having the Zone of Special Operations here in Norwood.

“Right around the citizens are saying it is our time now, we want to rid ourselves of these murders that used to happen and we are getting there,” he added.