MONTEGO BAY, St James — The St James police on Monday announced they have taken into custody a woman who they believe leads a gang of robbers that has left a swathe of victims across Jamaica.

Cops say the woman known by the moniker Toots, and a number of her top cronies, was nabbed days after the October 1 launch of Operation Endgame, which has been yielding positive results.

“On Sunday, October 5 about 7:30 pm Toots and six… men from the robbery syndicate were arrested at Dome Lane, Montego Bay, following two robberies in the township,” Superintendent Lynroy Edwards told the
Jamaica Observer Monday.

“We are feeling very happy and accomplished to make such a significant dent in the gang, even though we had already arrested several members of the gang and one was shot and killed during a confrontation with the police,” he added.

According to Edwards, the size of the criminal syndicate meant it initially continued to operate even after cops made a number of arrests. However, the nabbing of Toots is seen as a major breakthrough that is expected to cripple the gang.

“We had to be tweaking our strategies, which culminated in [the] arrest of this very dangerous female gang leader and her main lieutenants yesterday. This is something for us to really celebrate as a police division,” he said proudly.

Toots came to national prominence last week when the St James police, during a press conference, declared her involvement in a series of crimes.

Cops linked the gangsters to robberies at several business establishments operated by Chinese individuals in the western city. The vow to dismantle the gang was backed up by action Sunday evening.

“The Toyota Axio used in the robbery was also seized, as was several assorted rounds of ammunition, ski masks, and several items including cellular phones that were suspected to have been [stolen] earlier,” Edwards stated.

There is no word yet on when charges will be laid or the court dates for Toots and her henchmen but the police are hailing Sunday’s arrests — along with the previous arrest and charging of 10 people cops say are linked to the same gang — as a major win. They see it as proof that Operation Endgame, launched on October 1, is a success.

“Since October 1st several operations across the parish have impacted several major gangs and violence producers,” Edwards stated.

“Over 30 arrests for robberies, larceny, prohibited weapons, ammunition, dangerous drugs, sexual assault, and public order have been made,” he explained.

Operation Endgame succeeds the previously utilised Operation Storm One and Operation Storm Two initiatives. According to Edwards, under Endgame they have also made a major breakthrough in recent car thefts.

“On Saturday, about 2:50 am, one motor car with three men aboard was intercepted along Jimmy Cliff Boulevard,” the senior cop said.

“An electronic device that is used in the theft of motor vehicles was found, as also incriminating evidence that the men — who are from St Catherine, St Ann, and St James — are part of a major car stealing syndicate that is operating islandwide,” he added.

The operation that led to the arrest of Toots and some of her cronies continued Monday with a gun seizure.

“This morning, about 7:00 am, one revolver with no ammunition was recovered by the police along Barrett Town main road; no one is arrested,” Edwards disclosed.

He vowed that he and his team will do everything needed to make the parish crime-free.

“Our operations will be ongoing and intensified every day as we are highly motivated with the necessary skills, resources, and resilience to make St James one of the safest places in the Caribbean for the foreseeable future,” Edwards declared.